Local Disability Groups

General Access Group contacts:

Hampshire Coalition of Disabled People - Amanda Harnes 023 8036 3893
Hants Association for the Care of the Blind - Tom McNulty 023 8064 1244
Portsmouth Disability Forum - Lynne Rigby, tel 023 9281 5266
Havant and Chichester Shopmobility countryside access
Fareham Access Group - Lorraine Herrington, tel: 023 9238 8049, e-mail lorraine@farehamaccess.org.uk
Havant Borough Council Access Group - Richard Sturgess tel 023 9244 6642
Hayling Island Countryside Access - Dennis Medlycott tel 023 9246 6477
Hart Access Group
New Forest Access for All
Basingstoke Access Group
Winchester Group for Disabled People
Voluntary Action for East Hampshire

Hampshire County Council
Hampshire County Council's Access Manager is Marcos Frangos, whose responsibilities include the Disability Discrimination Act access audits and improvement strategy. Marcos and his team have, for example, audited the buildings and structures on the County Council's countryside sites which resulted in improvements to access such as automatic doors to help those with mobility impairments and better colour contrasts to help those who have visual impairments. Marcos may be contacted on marcos.frangos@hants.gov.uk or 01962 813811.

Disabled countryside users
There are a number of riding groups specifically aimed at disabled people, which can be found through the 'Riding for the Disabled' web-site or through Hampshire County Council's database of clubs and societies, 'Cousin', which may be searched using keywords such as 'horse', 'riding' and 'disabled'.

There are also a number of horse and carriage driving groups, such as New Forest Disabled Driving Group and Driving for the Disabled in Test Valley.

Some disabled people use motor vehicles to gain access to the countryside - see the local vehicle groups page on this web-site for details.