Urgent campaign to support accessibility in the Peak District

Hoe Grange Holidays has launched a £5,000 fundraising campaign to repair its off-road wheelchair, which has helped hundreds of disabled visitors and local families explore the countryside.

Main image: Travel blogger Carrie-Ann Lightly using the Boma 7 off-road wheelchair on a visit to Hoe Grange Holidays

For many people, heading out for a countryside walk is simple. For others, the Peak District is completely inaccessible.

For the past 13 years, guests at Hoe Grange Holidays have been able to explore rugged trails and share adventures with friends and family thanks to the Boma 7, an electric all-terrain wheelchair available to hire during their stay.

“Before chronic illness, I always took spending time outdoors for granted. However, after spending my twenties mostly stuck inside due to my symptoms, I found myself craving time in nature like never before,” says disabled writer, speaker and content creator Pippa Stacey. “Discovering the Boma on a trip to Hoe Grange Holidays with my best friend was a transformative experience. I’d never seen an off-road wheelchair that allowed you to sit in such a comfortable posture while having complete autonomy over your movement, and this meant I could just ‘walk’ along beside her and fully immerse myself in the beautiful surroundings. Perhaps this might sound like just a small thing, but it’s something we never imagined we’d be able to do.”

Game-changer

Owner, Felicity Brown, adds, “It’s been a game-changer – not just for Peak District visitors, but for local families who didn’t have access to the outdoors together before.”

Now, the Boma’s electrical system is failing and needs repair, or Hoe Grange faces taking this vital piece of kit out of service.

A full electronic refurbishment will cost nearly £10,000, so the Hoe Grange team have launched a public crowdfunding appeal to match their £5,000 investment to complete the repair.

Run by the Brown family, multi award-winning Hoe Grange has long been at the forefront of accessible rural tourism. From log cabins with roll-in wetrooms to being the first accommodation in the UK accredited as dementia-inclusive, their mission is simple: no-one should be left behind.

“The Boma isn’t a luxury,” says owner David Brown. “It’s the key to independence, adventure and joy. It’s allowed people to join family and friends in the hills, along the trails, and even on hacks with horses. It’s about being part of the same adventures, together.”

But with such a high cost to repair, and no grant funds available for fixing existing equipment, the Browns are now asking for your help.

“We’ve always kept the Boma hire fee low – just enough to cover insurance and basic upkeep – because we believe access shouldn’t depend on income. That won’t change,” says General Manager Caroline Brown. “But now that means we need your help!”

Every donation helps – no matter how big or how small. If you can’t give right now, a share on your socials would mean the world to the Hoe Grange team.

“Together we can keep the Boma rolling and make sure no-one gets left behind,” says David.

Able Magazine publisher, Steve Craven, remembers his adventure on the Boma 7 very fondly, saying: “Not only is the Boma solid and dependable, it’s also great fun too. I hope people do all they can to keep it going so that people can continue to enjoy the beautiful Peak District. I’m happy to donate £100 on behalf of Able Magazine.”

The crowdfunding page is now live. If funds exceed the target, every extra penny will go directly towards even more accessibility improvements at Hoe Grange.

 

You can donate via the Crowdfunding campaign link: https://gofund.me/9b746a35

 

Visit the Hoe Grange Holidays website: www.hoegrangeholidays.co.uk