Friendly Access

Friendly Access Creating and supporting a more accessible Scotland through Sport, Technology and Education. As demand is high, there is generally a waiting list.

Brought to you by the people who put 'autism friendly/relaxed' performances firmly into theatres across the UK. Through ๐—ฆ๐—ฝ๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐˜, ๐—ง๐—ฒ๐—ฐ๐—ต๐—ป๐—ผ๐—น๐—ผ๐—ด๐˜†, and ๐—˜๐—ฑ๐˜‚๐—ฐ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป, our holistic approach is designed around making Scotland a fairer, more accessible and inclusive place, regardless of disability or condition. Friendly Access has a successful reputation on delivering collaborative projects, which
respects and wo

rks in partnership with vulnerable and excluded young people, their families, and organisations. We have proven experience across working with technology and access projects, which are delivered co-productively to a high standard and on time. This reputation has earned us the trust of our stakeholders.

'๐˜ž๐˜ฆ ๐˜ข๐˜ญ๐˜ญ ๐˜ฌ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฐ๐˜ธ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ข๐˜ต ๐˜ธ๐˜ฉ๐˜ช๐˜ญ๐˜ด๐˜ต ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ ๐˜ช๐˜ฎ๐˜ฑ๐˜ข๐˜ช๐˜ณ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ต ๐˜ค๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฐ๐˜ต ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฆ๐˜ค๐˜ฆ๐˜ด๐˜ด๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜ช๐˜ญ๐˜บ ๐˜ฃ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ค๐˜ฉ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜จ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฅ, ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ท๐˜ช๐˜ณ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ต ๐˜ฐ๐˜ง๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ ๐˜ค๐˜ข๐˜ฏ, ๐˜ฎ๐˜ข๐˜ฌ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜จ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ท๐˜ช๐˜ณ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ต ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฅ๐˜ช๐˜ด๐˜ข๐˜ฃ๐˜ญ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜จ ๐˜ง๐˜ข๐˜ค๐˜ต๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ.' ๐˜Ž๐˜ญ๐˜บ๐˜ฏ ๐˜”๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜ณ๐˜ช๐˜ด, ๐˜Š๐˜ฉ๐˜ช๐˜ฆ๐˜ง ๐˜Œ๐˜น๐˜ฆ๐˜ค๐˜ถ๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ท๐˜ฆ'

Our projects include;

๐—ฆ๐˜‚๐—ฟ๐—ณ๐—”๐—•๐—Ÿ๐—˜ ๐—ฆ๐—ฐ๐—ผ๐˜๐—น๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฑ - Based on the North East coast of Scotland, we are proudly Scotland's first inclusive and fully adaptive surf therapy programme. SurfABLE Scotland took to the waves for the first time in 2017, with a mission to provide full access to surf therapy for everyone (aged 5 up), regardless of disability and condition. Our sessions consist of additional support needs groups (ASN), 1 to 1, and non-assisted groups, so whatever your requirements, we have a session tailored to meet all your expectations and need, including friends and family tickets for you all to share the experience.

๐—ฆ๐˜„๐—ถ๐—บ๐—”๐—•๐—Ÿ๐—˜ ๐—ฆ๐—ฐ๐—ผ๐˜๐—น๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฑ - working in partnership with Active Schools (Moray), we currently offer structured swimming lessons and pool surf sessions at Forres and Lossiemouth pools for children and young adults with additional support needs. Referrals can be made through your school, your Active Schools (Moray) area co-ordinator, or directly to [email protected].

๐—ง๐—ฒ๐—ฐ๐—ต๐—ป๐—ผ๐—น๐—ผ๐—ด๐˜†, ๐—ฅ๐—ฒ๐˜€๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ฐ๐—ต & ๐——๐—ฒ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ๐—น๐—ผ๐—ฝ๐—บ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜ - Friendly Access led a
collaborative project with the School of Simulation and Visualisation at The
Glasgow School of Art and Crag3D to validate โ€˜iSenseVRโ€™, funded by European Social
Fund, supported by The Scottish Government's Social Innovation Fund. The premises of this innovative concept is that it empowers people with โ€˜hidden disabilitiesโ€™ to break down barriers towards independent living. Using Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy and mobile technology, we successfully validated an affordable and accessible desensitisation and familiarisation solution to overcome fears and overwhelming stress associated with public environments. Our concept was a global first in bringing technology outside of laboratory conditions into mobile platforms. In 2018, โ€˜iSenseVRโ€™ won the โ€˜highly commended paper awardโ€™ at University of
Nottinghamโ€™sโ€™ 12th International Conference on Disability, Virtual Reality and
Associated Technologies.

๐—ฃ๐—ผ๐—น๐—ถ๐—ฐ๐˜† & ๐—˜๐—พ๐˜‚๐—ฎ๐—น๐—ถ๐˜๐˜† - As a newly established team, we appear to love policy. That said, we want to see policies which are both understanding to read and meaningful. We also feel for too long, the true sense of the word โ€˜person-centredโ€™ has been lost, and this needs to change. Our collaboration with Moray Council, saw our team provide a significant contribution with a revised โ€˜Transitions to Adulthoodโ€™ Policy, approved in February 2021. https://moray.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/543536 (2hrs 8mins)

Weโ€™re happy to share this opportunity for families across Moray.Moray Leisure Centre and Moray Disability Sports Hub are...
21/04/2026

Weโ€™re happy to share this opportunity for families across Moray.

Moray Leisure Centre and Moray Disability Sports Hub are inviting parents of children and young people with a disability to take part in focus groups this May, helping explore how sport, leisure and recreation opportunities can become even more inclusive across Moray.

At Friendly Access, we know how valuable it is when families are listened to and included in shaping services. If you have lived experience, your views could help make a real difference.

Topics include:
โœ… Current experiences
โœ… Accessibility & environment
โœ… Learn to Swim & skill programmes
โœ… Staff training & confidence
โœ… Pricing & funding
โœ… Future development

๐Ÿ“… Sessions run 5โ€“8 May (online and in person options available)
๐Ÿ“ Register via the JotForm in the invitation pack ๐Ÿ‘‰ https://form.jotform.com/260964540923057

Weโ€™d encourage families in our community to take a look and get involved if it feels right for you.

13/04/2026

Inclusive netball sessions restart on Friday 17th April from 2-3pm at Moray Sports Centre.

All abilities are welcome and no prior netball knowledge is required.

Contact us to find out more ๐Ÿ

๐Ÿ’™
28/02/2026

๐Ÿ’™

27/02/2026

๐ŸŒŠ Good luck to our amazing SwimABLE Scotland swimmers and all taking part! ๐ŸŠ

Tomorrow, weโ€™re incredibly proud to be taking 5 swimmers from our SwimABLE Scotland (Lossiemouth sessions) to compete in their very first swim gala at the Mary Duncan Swim Gala in Fraserburgh!

This is a huge milestone in celebrating all the hard work, determination, and progress theyโ€™ve shown at training each week. ๐Ÿ’™

No matter the results, youโ€™re already champions to us. We canโ€™t wait to see you shine and enjoy the experience.

๐Ÿ‘ Please join us in wishing our swimmers the very best of luck!

Friendly Access
Active Schools and Community Sport Moray
Grampian Disability Sport
Lossiemouth High School

06/02/2026

Over the past term, we've been proud to support 40 amazing children and young people in our inclusive swimming sessions in Forres ASG. ๐ŸŠโ€โ™‚๏ธ

The demand continues to grow, with 18 more on our waiting list, highlighting the need for accessible opportunities in our community.

We are currently the only ASN-specific organisation offering structured swimming lessons for both primary and secondary school aged children locally, and weโ€™re incredibly proud to provide a safe, inclusive space where children can build confidence, resilience, and feel secure in the water.

Parents and schools are witnessing transformative changes:

"His confidence has skyrocketed since SwimABLE."
"She was absolutely petrified of being in the water. Now, she can't wait for the next session."

๐Ÿ“„ Our latest interim report is attached if youโ€™d like to read more about the impact of the programme in our Forres ASG area.https://www.friendlyaccess.org/_files/ugd/3935a2_fb5f77b862b84398893f2a54f17b5f69.pdf

Thank you to our dedicated team, partners, and supporters who make this possible! ๐Ÿ’™

https://www.friendlyaccess.org/swimable-scotland

Friendly Access SwimABLE Scotland Active Schools and Community Sport Moray Newbold Legacy Trust

A huge thank you to Kathryn Arnould, Kate McLuckie, and Brian Smith for their outstanding performance and incredible kin...
25/11/2024

A huge thank you to Kathryn Arnould, Kate McLuckie, and Brian Smith for their outstanding performance and incredible kindness in raising funds for Friendly Access and our SurfABLE Scotland project. Their recital truly delighted the audience!

Special thanks also go to St. John's Church and everyone involved in hosting and ensuring the day ran so smoothly.

We are thrilled to announce that an amazing total of ยฃ300.80 was raised! Your generosity is deeply appreciated, and we are grateful to everyone who donated.

Thank you for making this event such a success!

๐ŸŽถโœจ Join Us for a Beautiful Musical Afternoon! โœจ๐ŸŽถ๐Ÿ“ St. Johnโ€™s Church Musical Recital๐Ÿ—“ Sunday, November 24thโฐ 3:00 PMExper...
20/11/2024

๐ŸŽถโœจ Join Us for a Beautiful Musical Afternoon! โœจ๐ŸŽถ

๐Ÿ“ St. Johnโ€™s Church Musical Recital
๐Ÿ—“ Sunday, November 24th
โฐ 3:00 PM

Experience an enchanting performance by:
๐ŸŽค Kathryn Arnould โ€“ Soprano
๐ŸŽป Kate McLuckie โ€“ Cello
๐ŸŽน Brian Smith โ€“ Piano

๐ŸŽŸ Free Entry | Donations Welcome
๐Ÿ’œ All proceeds support Friendly Access (SurfABLE Scotland Project) โ€“ making a difference in our community!

Come along and fill your Sunday with the joy of music, community spirit, and a wonderful cause. Bring your friends and family!

๐Ÿ“ฒ Learn more: www.stjohnsforres.org.uk

Address

Forres
IV362UA

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