Seaton Tramway are committed to inclusivity and have seized an exciting opportunity to team up with other historic sites in the South West as part of the new Heritage Ability scheme, designed to build a greater understanding of the barriers experienced by disabled and Deaf people when visiting heritage sites.
Thanks to National Lottery players, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has just awarded a grant of £527,000 to the scheme to support heritage sites in becoming more accessible.
There are 18 sites in the South West currently taking part, eight of which are located in Devon including: Cockington Country Park, Kents Cavern, National Trust Castle Drogo/Fingle Woods, National Trust Killerton, Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Seaton Tramway, Seaton Jurassic and Seaton Wetlands.
This scheme is delivered by charity, Living Options Devon, which was set up in 1990, and of which 80% of Trustees and volunteers, and over 50% of staff have disabilities or are Deaf. The project aims to improve access for people with physical disabilities, establish British Sign Language as part of each sites’ interpretation, whilst also making adaptations to improve experiences for those with autism.
Jenny Nunn, Chief Executive at Seaton Tramway said: “Seaton Tramway is proud to be involved in a project focused on making long-term changes to the accessibility of heritage in the South West. Here at the Tramway, we take into careful consideration the needs of those who require specialist access, and understand the importance of continuous growth and development in order to provide an excellent experience, making it inclusive for everyone.”
To discover how you could help and for more information about the project, please contact Jessica Holroyd, Engagement and Communications Officer at Heritage Ability, by emailing Jessica.holroyd@livingoptions.org or phoning 01392 459222.
You can also join the story on social media, by visiting @HLFSouthWest & @HeritageAbility and by using hashtags #heritageability and #NationalLottery.
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