• Home
  • About Little Hiccups
    • About Us
    • Welcome Pack
    • FAQ
    • Meet The Team
    • Awards and Certifications
    • Supporters and Affiliates
    • Policies and Procedures
  • How We Support
    • –
      • Stay n’ Play
      • Family Fun Days
      • Parent/Carer Events
      • Hydrotherapy
      • Physio Assessment and Advice
      • Accessible Yoga Sessions
    • –
      • All Terrain Buggy Hire
      • Travel Bed Hire
      • Stabilo Bagel Hire
      • Counselling
      • Compassion Packs
      • Mosaic Trail
    • –
      • Max Card
      • Educational / Informative
      • The Principle Trust Holidays
      • Ison Harrison Solicitors – Making a Will
      • Other Information
  • Get Involved
    • Volunteering
    • Fundraising
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Charity Lottery
    • Will Legacy
    • Give As You Live
    • Nectar Donate
    • Donate
  • Upcoming Events
    • All Events
    • Family Fun Days
    • Parent/Carer Events
    • Stay n’ Play
    • Educational / Informative
    • Fundraising
    • Annual Charity Ball
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • DONATE
  • Store
    • Shop at Little Hiccups
    • Cart
    • Checkout
  • Login
    • Login/Register
    • Update My Details

Call or text us now for more information: 0783 123 0741

info@littlehiccups.co.uk
Join our Mailing List
£0.00
No products in the cart
Go to shop
Login

Login
Little HiccupsLittle Hiccups
Little HiccupsLittle Hiccups

support - share - experience

   
  • Home
  • About Little Hiccups
    • About Us
    • Welcome Pack
    • FAQ
    • Meet The Team
    • Awards and Certifications
    • Supporters and Affiliates
    • Policies and Procedures
  • How We Support
    • –
      • Stay n’ Play
      • Family Fun Days
      • Parent/Carer Events
      • Hydrotherapy
      • Physio Assessment and Advice
      • Accessible Yoga Sessions
    • –
      • All Terrain Buggy Hire
      • Travel Bed Hire
      • Stabilo Bagel Hire
      • Counselling
      • Compassion Packs
      • Mosaic Trail
    • –
      • Max Card
      • Educational / Informative
      • The Principle Trust Holidays
      • Ison Harrison Solicitors – Making a Will
      • Other Information
  • Get Involved
    • Volunteering
    • Fundraising
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Charity Lottery
    • Will Legacy
    • Give As You Live
    • Nectar Donate
    • Donate
  • Upcoming Events
    • All Events
    • Family Fun Days
    • Parent/Carer Events
    • Stay n’ Play
    • Educational / Informative
    • Fundraising
    • Annual Charity Ball
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • DONATE
  • Store
    • Shop at Little Hiccups
    • Cart
    • Checkout
  • Login
    • Login/Register
    • Update My Details

Fun at the beach

Fun at the beach

Fun at the beach

February 27, 2014 Events

This picture for me says it all. Meet Jack (in orange), Jenna (in the rainbow) and Lindsay. I’m Katy and behind the camera. Jack is eight years old. Jenna is three and a half. The last time Jack was on the beach Jenna wasn’t even born. Accessing the beach before this day was ni-on impossible.

In the February half term a few parents from the Leeds based support group for families of children with disabilities Little Hiccups joined several other families for a leisurely stroll (and a few races) along Bridlington’s north beach. The difference between ourselves and the other families we met was that three of our children have complex health needs.  
National statistics back up what we as parents and carers already know. Children with complex disabilities (physical, sensory, behavioural, emotional etc etc) remain significantly less likely to participate in leisure and sporting activities than non-disabled children. Including strolling along the beach, country parks, historical sites, skiing, and family bike rides. The majority of things we as children probably took for granted. This is not to say that it is impossible for everyone, but have you ever tried carrying a bucket and spade, suction machine, feed pump, oxygen, emergency medication, changing items, food and drinks whilst manovering a 25kg child in a 25kg wheelchair with wheels as small as a computer chair on wet sand. Believe me it’s training for any solider!
Rather than accepting total defeat we at Little Hiccups searched for an all-terrain wheelchair and thankfully found the Kangoo.
What’s so special about this wheelchair?
This wheelchair is amazing!! It’s versatile and practical (two things every parent loves). With various attachments it can be taken on the beach, parkland, forests, attaches to a bike as a trailer, converts to a car seat and even has ski’s! It comes in a range of colours and even has wipe down material.
For all the family it’s fun! The last time Jenna and I raced in her wheelchair buggy was against my seven year old niece in Toulouse Airport killing time waiting for our plane. Apart from the odd holiday maker and piece of hand luggage the terrain was totally flat. I’ll admit now (hoping our rep doesn’t read this) I think that’s possibly where we broke the suspension. That was fun, and tiring for Ruby and I, Jenna not so much. Compare that to eleven year old Georgia and I racing Jack and Jenna across the bumpy sand, splashing in puddles, legs kicking, gasping against the sea air and their beautiful smiles show it’s no contest.
Exhausted for all the right reasons, walking back up the beech we met Tracey and James waiting patiently on the ramp. Lindsay, Jack and Georgia sped ahead chatting to the kind rep who drove the length of the country to let us play in the sand. Walking with Tracey pushing James in his own chair back up the ramp I didn’t need to ask them how accessible they thought the Kangoo was. I could see for myself every few steps Tracey, heaving, pushing and willing James’ chair up over the slippery cobbles whilst I one handed pushed Jenna in the Kangoo and filmed them struggling.
Once together we dissected test day two and I asked them what the day had been like:
‘’This is awesome’’ (Lindsay)
‘Sooo much easier than James chair’ (Georgia)
‘It’s so much comfier than my own chair, comfier than a car seat…’ (James)
‘How about compared to a sofa’ (me), ‘Yeah, just like the sofa’ (James).
‘I’ll get to do loads more now, can we take this on our holiday this year’ (James).
Why is this so important?
Recently I was chatting to a family member who visited a country park where we first tested the Kangoo. I asked if he’d had a nice time and what they’d enjoyed as a family.
“Nice place but there’s not much there,” he replied.
I might have been incredulous had I not been accustomed to such responses, for over the past three years since having my daughter I learnt that sometimes those who can see, see little. How was it possible, I asked myself, to walk for an hour through the woods and see nothing worthy of note? Linsay and I, parents of children with severe sight impairments search endlessly for things that interest Jack and Jenna through touch, smell and sound. Taking the two in the Kangoo wheelchairs into the woods to feel the delicate symmetry of a leaf, pass their hands lovingly about the smooth skin of a silver birch, or the rough, shaggy bark of a pine is priceless. Thinking of the spring to come and imagining taking them into the woods to experience the first signs of awakening nature after her winter’s sleep. To feel the cool wetter air, the smell of sweet, damp earth, hearing the birds in the trees, touching the velvety texture of a flower and discover its remarkable convolutions is unbelievably exciting.
As parents of children with disabilities/sensory impairments/additional needs we are compelled to be creative in the ways in which we teach our children. The Kangoo’s versatility and practicality overcomes a huge accessibility barrier.  We hope that giving family’s access to use these wheelchairs for day trips like ours, weekends and holidays will give something more than just a single moment in time, but enriches their lives and give their families life long memories (and if like us a hundred new photo’s to share with family and friends). 

Written by Katy Swinhoe

From the left that’s me with James, Lindsay, Georgia and Jenna in the middle and Tracy with Jack on the right.
Share
0

You also might be interested in

The perfect recipe for a great night out

The perfect recipe for a great night out

Oct 25, 2022

We had a full house on Saturday for our Cocktail[...]

August 2025 Impact Report – Our First Summer of Events 

August 2025 Impact Report – Our First Summer of Events 

Sep 3, 2025

This August marked a huge milestone for Little Hiccups —[...]

Its Our 10th Birthday!

Its Our 10th Birthday!

Jul 9, 2019

We’re TEN! Can you believe it? Ten years of growth[...]

Login Status

Forgot?  Register

Find us on

Upcoming Events

25 in '25 - Virtual Running Challenge
25 in '25 - Virtual Running Challenge
22 Jan 25
TBC
2025 09-12 Wellbeing for Parents Yoga Sessions
2025 09-12 Wellbeing for Parents Yoga Sessions
10 Sep 25
Leeds
Hydrotherapy Sessions - Sept 2025
Hydrotherapy Sessions - Sept 2025
13 Sep 25
Leeds
Stay n Play - Thursday afternoon session
Stay n Play - Thursday afternoon session
2 Oct 25
Leeds
2025 10 04 Hiccups Parent/Carer Paddleboarding Session!
2025 10 04 Hiccups Parent/Carer Paddleboarding Session!
4 Oct 25
Leeds

Fresh from our Blog

  • Templegate Tinytots Turns 55!
  • Little Hiccups Day Out at Eureka! – What a Blast!
  • Scarecrow Fun at Harewood House!
  • Smashing Barriers on the Slopes – Our Skiing Adventure at The Snow Centre Manchester
  • Celebrating Courage, Community and Change: Our Night at the National Diversity Awards 2025

Get to know us

Little Hiccups is a Leeds based support group that has been set up by parents who have children with additional needs.

Through personal experience they recognise the importance of allowing the parents and families of a child with a disability the opportunity to meet people in similar situations, to make friends and support each other.

Important Links

Terms and Conditions
Privacy Statement
Use of Cookies

Contact Info

  • Little Hiccups
  • c/o The Barrowbys, 170 Barrowby Lane, Garforth, Leeds, LS25 1NG
  • 07831230741
  • info@littlehiccups.co.uk
  • https://www.littlehiccups.co.uk

Charity Details

Little Hiccups is a Company limited by Guarantee - Company number 09692276

Little Hiccups is a Registered Charity
Charity Number 1170147

Blog

  • Templegate Tinytots Turns 55! September 29, 2025
  • Little Hiccups Day Out at Eureka! – What a Blast! September 29, 2025
  • Scarecrow Fun at Harewood House! September 26, 2025
  • Smashing Barriers on the Slopes – Our Skiing Adventure at The Snow Centre Manchester September 23, 2025
  • Celebrating Courage, Community and Change: Our Night at the National Diversity Awards 2025 September 22, 2025

Follow Us

Stay in Touch

Join our mailing list
Prev Next
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT