Training and Consultancy

Working with organisations to promote access and inclusion.

Training

Consultancy

Route Planning

Video & PhotoTrailS

Training

Helping organisations improve access for all

Experience Community has developed a range of one- and two-day training courses designed to help organisations understand how they can better support physically disabled people in accessing green space and the outdoors.

Our courses build on the lived experiences of our staff and participants, offering a range of practical solutions that can be implemented and embedded into management plans and funding applications. To date, we have delivered this training to organisations including National Parks, National Landscapes, National Trails UK, Natural Resources Wales, Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland, National Trust and Yorkshire Water, receiving positive feedback on both the content and delivery.

Our courses include:

Understanding Least Restrictive Access: walkthrough audits and tools to describe routes for disabled people
Inclusive Walk and Ride Leadership: for people who use non-standard cycles and mobility equipment
Route Videos for Disabled People: creating and providing effective videos to describe routes and sites for disabled people
Phototrails Training: how organisations can use PhotoTrails.org to provide information more effectively
Mobility equipment maintenance: including mountain trikes and non-standard cycles

“I really enjoyed the classroom sessions and found them super educational and interesting — particularly Craig’s sharing of personal experience mixed in with case studies and practical tools.

The outdoor sessions were engaging and refreshing despite the rain. Using the mobility trikes over the tree roots on the path which said ‘NO ACCESS FOR MOBILITY AIDS’ and the fascinating conversation that unfolded was certainly a highlight!”

— Ami, Natural England (Understanding Least Restrictive Access Course, July 2024)

Consultancy

Developing sustainable models for accessibility

Through working directly with disabled people and drawing on our own lived experience Experience Community has unrivalled expertise in helping natural heritage organisations improve access for disabled people while considering the impact on the landscape, environment and nature.

We will work with you and your colleagues to examine your priorities and ensure other stakeholder interests and cost-benefit are taken into account while developing project plans and consultancy reports. Whether it’s a single route or a whole estate plan, our consultancy services will help you deliver your vision for inclusion and diversity.

Our consultancy work includes:

Estate walking and cycling route audits and improvement recommendations
Improving access to nature
Planning and managing woodland access for disabled people
Wetland and boardwalk access
Inclusive single-track mountain bike trails
Whole Estate Plans, including mobility hubs
Appropriate access to NNRs and SSIs

“The walk was an eye-opening experience as most of us weren’t familiar with mountain trike technology. It showed how experienced outdoor users using high-quality equipment can tackle much more challenging terrain than we’d thought possible.

We also saw immediately how certain issues – like not having protected parking spaces to load wheelchairs in and out of vehicles, or gates where the catches only work from one side, can create difficult barriers in otherwise easy and accessible routes.”

— Jessie, National Trust Lake District North and West Portfolio

Route planning

Co-creating new ways to access outdoor environments

In addition to our site-specific consultancy services, we work with organisations to develop new walking and cycling routes that can be promoted to disabled people once improvements have been made.

We have worked with several Landscape Recovery Schemes, Wales Coast Path and the Cotswolds Way National Trail to develop new and alternative routes that are more inclusive for people who use mobility equipment or have difficulty walking.

We worked with Cycling UK to assess the suitability of the Rebellion Way and develop a accessible alternate route for non-standard cycles. We have a particular interest in inclusive multi-day walking and cycling routes where additional services such as baggage transfers and suitable accommodation may also need to be identified.

Our specialisms include:

Routes on Public Rights of Way
Access to uplands
Coastal paths
River and canal side walks
Creating multi-day walking and cycling routes for disabled people

“Cycling UK worked with Experience Community to test ride the Rebellion Way route with a handcycle and a trailer, to identify barriers and challenges and look for ways to overcome them — co-creating an alternative route.

We aimed to retain the overall feel and experience of the Rebellion Way, so the alternative route is not all smooth rolling – there are still some fun challenging bits and some gravelly, sandy terrain to tackle!”

— Cycling UK

Video and PhototrailS

Creating informative and accessible media

As well as training organisations and individuals to create their own films and Phototrails, we can also create media on your behalf.

We have years of experience in making films and recording Phototrails routes — providing vital information for disabled people so that they can make informed decisions about where they want to go.

Our content includes descriptive text, photos, mapping and subtitles for videos so that organisations can be confident that they are providing the information disabled people require in an accessible format.

Our specialisms include:

Videography
Editing and production
Subtitling
Photography
Phototrails routes

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Community feedback

I have had a spinal injury for 12 months and am still coming to terms with my disability. Experience Community has played a huge part in my recovery and rehabilitation.

Through a difficult year, their activities have given me a vital avenue to safely experience physical exercise and the outdoors while I relearn how to live my life.

Ian W