NEWS

First outing of the year: Our outing to Grantown will be the first of the season weather permitting and we hope that indeed the sun will shine for us on Friday 18th April.Joining instructions are as per Newslettert(12th April)

Contin Audited: The Contin route  planned for May was audited last week by Elspeth, Allan and Martin and it was felt that the chosen route almost to the falls was very good indeed. Our trip planned for 5 weeks time should see a little warmer weather but none the less it was a pleasant day when we checked it out. Martin was a great wealth of knowledge on the various types of trees and it made for a very pleasant ramble. The nearest disabled toilets still need to be checked as the toilets at the start of the walk are very limited indeed. (12th April)

CANCELLED OUTING: PLEASE NOTE THAT THE FIRST OUTING OF THE YEAR TO CULLODEN WOODS ON THURSDAY 27TH MARCH HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER CONDITIONS. NOT ONLY WAS THE ROUTE UNUSABLE DUE TO MUD BUT THERE WAS ALSO AN ADDITIONAL PROBLEM WITH FALLEN TREES. WE APOLOGISE FOR THIS PROBLEM AND AS YET NO DECISION HAS BEEN TAKEN AS TO WHETHER THE TRIP WILL BE UNDERTAKEN AT A LATER DATE. (24TH MARCH)

Thistle Challenge 2008. This is an event organised by Volunteering Highland where participants have an opportunity to raise money for charities or good causes of their choosing. This year as well as the challenge route there will be a route suitable for wheelchairs. check out the link The Thistle Challenge - The 2008 Challenge.

Anagach Woods Walk: This walk was audited on Tuesday 4th by Martin, Allan and Sheila with Nicky and sons along for further assistance. It was a very pleasant spring like afternoon when we audited the path and probably the route was as near to perfection as we could get. No doubt the vegetation will be different in the next 8 weeks but we will also have the services of a local ranger. As usual joining details will be distributed in the usual way.

Scooters: The batteries have been replaced this month and this should keep the scooters going for some time. Our thanks to City Mobility for their help in this matter.

First Aid Course: This took place on Saturday 2nd March at Inshes Church. It certainly was a full day  carried out by two very able members of Red Cross. Five members participated including two wheelchair users Cameron and Sheila. We were introduced to some interesting methods of carrying out CPR and even if people do not have the physical ability to carry this out at least with the knowledge they can instruct others. The trainers have volunteered to show us some more practical tips in the future. The views of those attending were all favourable.

Culloden Woods Walk: This walk was duly audited by Margaret Chown, Margaret Ackers, Martin and Allan on a changeable day in mid February. We have identified a suitable route which should be interesting and the finishing touches to arrangements are being put together and will be shared in the usual way. We hope to have a good turn out and yet another enjoyable day on 27th March.

The importance of Toilets: It will come as no surprise that suitability of toilets is usually a talking point when we are discussing outings. It is not our intention to criticise any one through our web page but if you know of a toilet which is a good example as to how a Disabled Toilet should be please let us know. It need not be local but could be within Scotland or UK and could be helpful to your fellow disabled travellers.

Volunteer Drivers: We hope to announce a number of new drivers and assistants to our volunteers in the near future. Draft Job Descriptions are being discussed by the committee. We are grateful to those volunteering as it helps us to possibly expand our activities (28th January 2008)

Christmas Appeal: Sheila is keen to get some photographs from both the Lairg outing and the Christmas outing for her HDR scrapbook. Please contact Sheila directly.(28th January 2008)

Rambles 2008: Check the link for any alterations.

LINKS: In the absence of a links page  here are a view suggested sites which may be of interest to our members.  Forestry Commission www.forestry.gov.uk,  Fieldfare Trust www.fieldfare.org.uk,  Partnerships for Wellbeing www.pfw.org.uk, Step it up Highland www.stepituphighland.org.uk,  Forth & Tay Disabled Ramblers www.ftdr.com.

Committee Members Wanted: We are urgently looking for more committee members, especially members who are disabled. We understand that when we apply for funding as a disabled organisation, potential funders may be unwilling to give us money unless we have a majority of disabled people on our committee. Please consider joining the committee and help HDR secure a good future. Duties need not be onerous. (Friday 11th January)

Path Auditing: The Access Officers from both the Highland Council and Cairngorm National Park have requested our help in assessing the suitability of some of their path network for disabled users. We hope to receive payment for this work which would help our fundraising efforts. We plan to arrange a training course for members willing to take on this task. We’d like to hear from any of our members who would be willing to take part and who can spare a few hours on occasion to help with this work. (Friday 11th January)

Anyone wishing further details about upcoming events or membership can make first contact by telephone 07895 066 965