SEM’s Founder/CEO Maxwell A Ayamba had the honour to walk and talk with Debbie North, Cabinet Office appointed Disability and Access Ambassador for the Countryside. Writer, Consultant and Keynote Speaker Member of the British Guild of Travel, writer, travel journalist, and passionate activist dedicated to promoting access for all.
Debbie also runs Access the Dales, a non-profit organisation that aims to reduce barriers for people to access the outdoors and be more active, making sure that no-one is left behind, or excluded. They do this by providing all-terrain wheelchairs in different locations in the Yorkshire Dales and in the Forest of Bowland, by organising inclusive events and by offering inspiration for accessible activities.
Debbie who is also an Ordnance Survey champion is commissioned by Bloomsbury Press to write a book highlighting the inspiring stories of individuals who have used the great outdoors to overcome adversity and was interested to her Maxwell’s story as an access champion and activist.
SEM’s CEO said he was pleased to meet another access champion such as Debbie to walk and talk along the Old Roman Road, Lady Canning’s Plantation, Peak District National Park, Saturday October 12th 2024.
Maxwell explained that Debbie’s work resonates with the work of SEM to promote access for those marginalised in society.
Debbie said she was keen to work with SEM to reach out to specifically Black and Ethnic Minorities individuals with disabilities who are the most marginalised when it comes to accessing the countryside. She explained this is the most hidden group in our society who know one talks about and whose voices are not heard in Government policy in relation to access rights.
SEM’s CEO noted that disabled Black and Minoritised individuals particularly suffer from “double jeopardy” in the provision of environmental services as they have no one to advocate on their behalf. He therefore welcome the idea to work with Debbie to reach out to this marginalised group who lack the resources and equipment to access the greens paces such as the countryside and National Parks where those privileged are reaping the benefits of our Natural Health Service.
Maxwell was surprised at the number of walkers they met on the trail (all white) who were impressed to see Debbie make it up the rugged terrain in the Peak Park with her Terrain Hopper.
He said it was interesting to hear that the walkers had never seen a powerful machine such as the Terrain Hopper in the Peak Park.
A Rehabilitation Consultant at Leeds General Hospital who us stopped to speak with Debbie on the trail said he had never seen such a machine and would share details of the machine with the hospital so that they can recommend it to people released after rehabilitation.
A white lady who also stopped to speak to Debbie said her uncle, an outdoors enthusiast recently lost both legs and can’t get out into the outdoors on the normal wheelchair”.