On the 6th July a team of Coalition members and staff visited Parallel Windsor for our latest Wellbeing Get Together. Parallel Windsor is a Festival of Inclusivity with Challenge Events for all ages, health conditions & abilities. It is held in the grounds of the majestic Windsor Great Park with the challenge events staged on the iconic Long Walk.
There were a variety of different challenge events that you could take part in. Firstly, a Super Sensory event which supports neurodiversity and participants with profound and multiple learning disabilities to exercise their senses engaging with sound, taste, touch and smell. Then there were wheel, push, walk or run challenges over a variety of distances 100metres, 1km, 5km or 10km. The slogan of “Start Together, Finish Whenever” highlights that there are no cut off times. The Coalition team completed distances of 100metres, 1km and 5km, with each person choosing the right challenge for them.
Each event was started by the Town Crier ringing his bell and setting us on our way with a traditional “here ye, here ye” and speech. The events were certainly a challenge with thunderous skies and a few heavy downpours, as well as pushing on a camber and a medical issue! Everyone excelled themselves though, achieving their goals and overcoming adversity with good humour and resilience!
After the challenge events we collected our T-shirts and medals and grouped together for some much-needed lunch and a sit down in the festival arena. The food vans were next to the stage and so we enjoyed a variety of music and dance from Disabled performers whilst we ate. Another downpour bought the Greatest Dancer Challenge to an early finish, and we were glad to be under cover!
The festival had a range of activities and entertainment for all tastes and interests, including an animal kingdom, pony rides from a local RDA (Riding for the Disabled), arts and crafts sessions, health and wellbeing sessions, comedy, music and dance as well as a variety of Disability sports and a climbing wall. There was a quiet space, a sensory zone and stalls from lots of different organisations and charities.
Hopefully, we will be back next year with a little bit more sunshine! If you would like to find out more about our Wellbeing Get Together events please get in touch with Katy or Guy:
Katy – Phone/SMS: 07434 865062 Email: katy.hubbard@surreycoalition.org.uk
Guy – Phone/SMS: 07305 009869 Email: guy.hill@surreycoalition.org.uk
Surrey Coalition of Disabled People
Astolat, Coniers Way
Burpham, GU4 7HL