We are pleased to be launching a new Tandem Club and Walking Group for people with disabilities in the Selby District! The new groups are launching in April and we are keen to hear from you if would like to get involved either as a volunteer or a disabled member.
Open Country has over 30 years experience of helping people with disabilities to access and enjoy the countryside and we currently run a number of outdoor activities across Yorkshire including tandem clubs in Harrogate, Ripon, Wakefield, Wetherby and York as well as walking groups in Harrogate, York and Wakefield.
Situated between our existing work in York and Wakefield, Selby seemed the obvious next step to expand our services and we are really excited to be working in a new area and forming new partnerships. The project, initially running for two years, has been kindly funded by The Primary Club and The Two Ridings Community Foundation‘s ‘Heart of Yorkshire’ fund.
Our brand new Selby Tandem Club meets at 6pm until 9pm on Wednesday evenings. Following on from our proven, successful model, tandem riders can expect a sociable bike ride in the countryside in a supportive environment, stopping off at a pub on the way round. If you have never ridden a tandem before, don’t worry, you can come along and have a go to see if it suits you. It really is great fun, but don’t just take our word for it, here’s what one of our volunteers has to say:
I’m really enjoying everything about volunteering – the motivation to get out cycling (even in the rain, it’s strangely not as bad as you might think!), the challenge of learning something new, the fantastic company in the pub and at the same time helping other people to enjoy these things too – what’s not to like about that?Jocasta, Tandem Volunteer
If cycling’s not your thing, why not try our Selby Walking Group? We meet on Thursdays at 10am and explore walking routes in the local countryside of up to 7 miles. Bring a packed lunch, walking boots and a flask of tea and you are good to go! Walking in the fresh air with a friendly group can really help to improve your fitness, mental health and wellbeing. One of our members, who comes out with our York Walking Group explains what Open Country means to him:
I enjoy the fresh air and the exercise. It’s also great to see my friends and explore new places I wouldn’t otherwise have visited. As a non-sighted walker I need to be guided, but the Open Country staff and volunteers are really helpful so this is never a problem. My trips out with Open Country are a challenge, but in a good way. It means I can get out there! Nick, York Walking Group
Please do get in touch if you would like more information about our new groups, either as a volunteer or a disabled member – we’d love to hear from you! You can either call Mark or Emilia on 01423 507227 or email yorkandselby@opencountry.org.uk
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