West Bay Beach Wheelchair Scheme

16/10/2026

🌞😎🤗 What a summer! Absolutely fabulous- with a record amount of wheelchair hires 🎉🎊.

There were lots of fun bobbings in the amphibious Mobi chair, and the three other wheelchairs had many many outings, with far more people getting onto and spending time on the beach.😊

And of course the beach matting, which may not attract the attention or the photographs, but each and every day people in wheelchairs, mobility scooters and buggies were on the beach because of that matting- it's a simple, but wonderfully effective resource 🙌.

So now the matting has been lifted, the wheelchairs will be bedded down and the brilliant brilliant volunteers can hang up their teeshirts for a while.👏 👏👏👏

We will be up and running again next May- we hope to see you all then and to see many more people enjoying the beach at West Bay. 🥰

13/10/2026

Today a valiant group of volunteers from West Bay Beach Wheelchair Scheme headed out in very blustery conditions to help Ben, Doug and Molly from the Bridport Harbour - West Bay team.

With the stormy season approaching all our lovely matting had to be lifted and safely stored for the winter before the sea claimed it! Our volunteers swept off the stones and seaweed from the matting to make it easier to disassemble and then helped carry it to the pallets.

The matting will be out again in spring as soon as sea conditions allow. The beach matting creates a firm, stable surface that makes it much easier and safer to move across the stones and shingle and reach close to the water’s edge. It opens up opportunities for wheelchair users to enjoy the coast in the same way as others.

Thank you to everyone involved. It's a great scheme to be working on with the WBBWS volunteers and the Harbourmaster team.

05/10/2026

On Friday night Elaine Leader, founder of West Bay Beach Wheelchair Scheme, was honoured at the Volunteer Centre Dorset's volunteer awards. The evening recognised the outstanding dedication of volunteers of all ages who give their time to support people, places and communities across Dorset.

Elaine turned an idea into a lasting legacy of inclusion, founding and championing the West Bay Beach Wheelchair Scheme, launched in 2023 to give people with disabilities and restricted mobility the opportunity to enjoy the beach and sea. Through determination, partnership working, and community fundraising, Elaine brought the project to life, providing free beach access equipment, including a floating chair supported by volunteers to help people safely enter the water. She didn’t stop there, continuing to fundraise for a purpose-built storage facility to protect the equipment for years to come. Elaine’s vision and outstanding commitment has transformed access in West Bay.

Elaine never wants to take personal credit and will always say it is a team effort, but we all know this only exists because of her tenacity and enthusiasm. We are proud to be part of this scheme, to support and champion what Elaine set up and the team are carrying forward.

02/10/2026

The facilites should only be closed for one day, please spread the word to anyone you think may be affected ☺️🙏

01/10/2026

Ewan’s carers said he had a lovely time; they could tell because he was so relaxed 😊🥰😊
🌊The sea seems to do that for so many of us, whether it's the rhythm of the waves, the weightlessness, the closeness to water or the sea air; there is something soothingly therapeutic and beneficial about being on the beach.
💖The season might be winding down, but the sea is forever.💖

25/09/2026

🧐 So how did it go? We need to hear your thoughts..😃 🤔

There is a brilliant movement afoot to make Dorset’s coastline fully accessible to people with mobility issues- i.e. to make it the Inclusive Blue Space Capital of the Uk! Lucky us! 🤗

Have you used the facilities at the West Bay Beach Wheelchair Scheme, or any other accessible beach in the southwest? Hired a beach wheelchair? Found the beach matting useful ? Made use of the changing places facilities? Travelled here because it is an accessible beach?
If so, then your thoughts and opinions about your experience will be really valuable in helping to make this happen.

✍️So please if you can, follow the link below, fill in the survey, then your answers will help to support this Beach Access Project. It should only take around 5 min to complete, so let’s do it- everyone should be able to Reach the Beach! 🥰

https://form.jotform.com/wbehenna/beachaccess_visitor_exp-2026v3

Bridport Town Council Beach Access Project Dorset National Landscape Dorset Council @

11/09/2026

Pam is, at 85 🤗, our oldest Mobi user (so far!). Doesn't she look perfectly gorgeous, enjoying her bob in the sea with her daughters Helen and Jane.🥰🤩🥰

🌞🌞🌞This was another delightful outing that shows that age is no barrier to joy and beauty, and that it should be no barrier to being able to 'Reach the Beach'💖

08/09/2026

Before the weather turned a little more autumnal, the 'adventure buddies' have had more fun visits to the beach 🌞🏖️
Esmai, Oli, Gabe, Charlie & Josh have all had turns in the sea, Esmai in her Grandad's arms 🥰🥰
And yes, that big grey cloud did burst and we had a very sudden downpouring of rain! But it didn't dampen anyones spirits- everyone was rather wet anyway 😆😊🌊❤️

07/09/2026

26/08/2026

Betty is 102! And looking absolutely wonderful. 🤩🤩🤩Her grandchildren, knowing Betty would love to be on the beach and near the sea, made it happen. 🥰🥰🥰

🦽They hired the Sandcruiser wheelchair, so they could bring Betty right down to the shore and have a special seaside outing together.🏖️🦀🐚

Young or older, being on the beach does us good; it lifts moods, help us relax,, brings us together, and also provides an excellent excuse to indulge in an icecream 🍦
😄😋🤗