It was a curious thing. The organisers of the White Cliffs Walking Festival in Kent were baffled that for the third year running their walk for disabled people had produced no takers.
The venue: scenic. The weather: fine. The volunteers: ready to go. The customers: none. It was a great disappointment, and maybe the walk should be withdrawn forever, they concluded. Obviously, there was no demand.
This seemed odd, though. Why would people, no matter what their disability, not enjoy a stroll – or a wheel – in the great outdoors? The baffling continued.
Joy of walking
Then a chance encounter with someone from a Carers’ Support organisation offered a glimpse into the truth.
Disabled people and those who cared for them would absolutely love the exercise and sociability that walking entails, but they frequently suffered a perfect storm of hindrance.
Health issues and financial problems, chief among them. Isolation, loss of confidence, a lack of feeling connected to the outside world. Depression, loneliness and a sense that the four walls within which they inhabited had become some kind of prison. It was hard to spring open the door and take that first step.
That’s when Stepping Out with Carers was born.
Removing the barriers
In March 2017, a walk – in fact two walks – were offered in Folkestone. An easy one along the top of The Leas with glorious views over the English Channel, and a more challenging route down a zigzag path to the seashore (and hopefully up again).
It was made known that this was an event specifically catering to the disabled and their carers. Carers’ Support organisations spread the news among their clients. Transport could be provided for those who had neither the finances nor the vehicles to get to the start line. And a snack lunch would round off the activity.