Latest news with #DiverseAbilities
Leader Live
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Leader Live
Bangor-on-Dee Racecourse will be one of 60 visited
This summer, 19-year-old Tom Dunlop has taken on a the mission to cycle more than 2,600 miles around the UK, visiting all 60 racecourses, starting at Newton Abbot racecourse on Sunday, July 27 finishing at Newbury racecourse on Thursday, August 28. He is expected to be Bangor-on-Dee, Wrexham, on Wednesday, August 20th. Read more: And they're off! Famous faces in our Bangor on Dee look back This is an epic solo, self-navigating effort that will take huge physical and mental strength and effort. Tom will be fundraising for the Injured Jockeys Fund and Diverse Abilities to help fund a hydrotherapy pool for The Beehive Activity and Therapy Centre in Poole. Tom was inspired to raise money for The Beehive as his godmother's son, Ollie has Angelman's Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that causes severe physical and mental disabilities. Ollie has attended The Beehive for many years, where he is able to take part in activities he enjoys, access physiotherapy and receive the support he needs. Read more: Racecourse a special place for generations of Reds fans Alexandra Meyrick, Ollie's mum said: "The Beehive gives Ollie something truly precious: purpose. That's not easy to come by when you live with such complex needs. The centre provides more than just care - it offers dignity, joy, and a sense of belonging. We are eternally grateful to the team there. They are exceptional - it takes not just skill, but compassion, patience, and deep understanding to support someone like Ollie and all the others who use this invaluable service. What they offer makes such a difference. "Tom has generously said he will equally divide the money he raises between the two causes. For The Beehive, the donations will contribute to their hydrotherapy pool fundraiser as water is Ollie's true love! Accessible and safe swimming pools are sadly scarce so this will be a great addition to their centre. Regular swimming will not only be beneficial to Ollie and the others but will bring huge amounts of joy." Read more: Mountain of a challenge for Wrexham nurses in aid of Guide Dogs Tom has a fundraising target of £60,000 which he aims to split between the two charities. He added: "During my gap year I wanted to challenge myself and raise monies for two charities - the Injured Jockeys Fund and The Beehive - Diverse Abilities. Having travelled to New Zealand, Hong Kong and South Africa it is now time to give something back." • Follow Tom's Journey at or find out more about The Beehive at
BBC News
29-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Berkshire Teenager set to pedal 2,600 miles for Dorset charity
A teenager is taking on a charity challenge to cycle over 2,600 miles (4,184 km) around the UK visiting 60 Great British Dunlop, 19, from Lambourn in Berkshire, started his cycle ride at Newton Abbot racecourse in Devon and will finish at Newbury racecourse in Berkshire on Thursday 28 Dunlop wants to raise £60,000 for two charities, the Injured Jockeys Fund and Diverse Abilities to help fund a hydrotherapy pool for The Beehive Activity and Therapy Centre in Poole, said: "During my gap year I wanted to challenge now I'm home it's time to give something back." Mr Dunlop explained that he is taking on this challenge for The Beehive as his godmother's son, Ollie Meyrick, 23, has attended for many Meyrick has Angelman's Syndrome, which is a rare genetic disorder that causes severe physical and mental disabilities. Mr Dunlop said: "I was a bit nervous beforehand worried if I was fit enough and if the self navigating would go ok."Now, I've got going it feels brilliant and I'm loving some of the hills. They don't seem as bad as they looked on the route planner."He added: "The hardest bit so far is eating enough food, as I need 4,000-plus calories a day."My mother is driving the back up van and we try and meet every 20 miles for snacks and water."His mum Christina Dunlop recalls when Mr Dunlop said he wanted to go on a gap she was keen he did so but that he did something for charity."Little did we know he'd come up with an event that would involve serious logistical plotting and planning and a fitness regime," she said. "The ironic thing is that Tom has dyspraxia and couldn't ride a bike until he was 11-years-old."I'm so very proud of what he is aiming to achieve." Ollie's mum Alexandra Meyrick said: "The Beehive gives Ollie something truly precious: purpose."She added: "The centre provides more than just care, it offers dignity, joy, and a sense of belonging. We are eternally grateful to the team there."What they offer makes such a difference."She said: "Tom has generously said that he will equally divide the money he raises." You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
The Independent
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Beloved south coast theme park set to reopen after nearly two years
A former UK theme park has announced plans to reopen as an adventure park, two years after closing its doors. Adventure Wonderland Theme Park in Bournemouth first opened in 1992 with Alice in Wonderland -themed rides and rollercoasters. Rising costs forced the park to shut its outdoor attractions in 2022, before the family theme park temporarily 'closed for a restructure' at the end of 2023. At the time, the park near Bournemouth Airport said: 'The current trading climate and steep increase in key costs across the board is not conducive to the existing theme park model.' A formal planning application has now been submitted to Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council to improve the existing theme park facilities. Adventure Wonderland's transformation into a smaller adventure park will feature a maze, mini-golf and a go-karting track among its attractions. Park bosses also plan to reopen the cafe and education facility, replace some former ride areas with outdoor play spaces and repurpose existing buildings. Organisations, including Diverse Abilities and Discovery Village, have operated out of the theme park since it closed two years ago. A statement from the planning application said: 'The aim of this proposal is to create a site which is better adapted for use by the occupants of Merritown, Discovery Village and Diverse Abilities. 'All of these tenants want to create sustainable spaces which focus on creative outdoor spaces which are stimulating environments with outdoor play, sensory gardens, water play, and utilise the existing external spaces and buildings on site', reported the Bournemouth Echo. Adventure Wonderland initially opened as a pick-your-own fruit farm, eventually welcoming around 180,000 visitors to its tea cups, log flume and 'Wild Thing' indoor play area in the year before it closed. There is currently no confirmed reopening date, but the park announced hopes to start the 'new adventure in 2025' last September. In the 2024 update, the park shared on Facebook that the former Adventure Wonderland site was 'undergoing an exciting redevelopment '. It added: 'With the Alice in Wonderland maze at the heart, we are working on a lovely new concept with children's play areas, sensory and wildflower gardens and beautiful outdoor spaces for children and adults to enjoy quality time together.'
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Record £64,800 raised from recycling Christmas trees
MORE than £64,000 was raised for three charities by recycling Christmas trees. Diverse Abilities, Lewis-Manning Hospice Care and Julia's House benefited from the initiative that saw about 29 tonnes of trees collected from homes and businesses. The majority of these trees were turned into 96 cubic metres of woodland mulch by Parley-based Eco Sustainable Solutions. This is equivalent to approximately 1,920 wheelbarrow loads. The money raised from the tree disposal, which is up more than £7,000 from last year, goes directly to the three charities. READ MORE: Apple House Limited acquired by National Care Group Eco's Bryony Hammond (centre) with (left to right) Katie Thompson and Laura Maidment (Julia's House); Fiona Harwood (Lewis-Manning) and Francesca Potton (Diverse Abilities) (Image: Andrew Diprose) Bryony Hammond, Eco's marketing executive, said: "We're pleased and proud to play our part in raising a record amount for three very deserving local charities." Francesca Potton, community fundraiser at Diverse Abilities, added: "Treecycling continues to be one of our main fundraising initiatives every year, allowing us to fundraise sustainably and raise money to support children and adults with disabilities in the Dorset area." Laura Maidment, Julia's House public fundraising manager, said: "We are extremely grateful to Eco for helping us to successfully run our fourth Julia's House Christmas tree collection service. "We have only been able to make this initiative successful because of the kindness and generosity of several local companies, community groups and volunteers, who give their time, equipment and transport to help Julia's House staff and volunteers." Vicki Gray, head of fundraising at Lewis-Manning Hospice Care, said: "We are incredibly proud of the collective impact we've made together with another successful year of Christmas tree collections and recycling. "The funds raised through this eco-friendly campaign will directly benefit patients by funding 1,200 virtual exercise and well-being sessions, led by the charity's occupational therapists. "These sessions play a crucial role in helping patients maintain an active lifestyle, stay connected with others and improve their mental and physical health."
