Scottish Outdoor Access For All

A new project has just started that aims to bring together disabled people and people responsible for countryside management to ensure that opportunities for disabled people are included the Core Path Network being planned across Fife. The project is managed by the Fieldfare Trust and with funding support from Scottish Natural Heritage, the Scottish Disability and Equality Forum, and the EC Leader + programme.

Consultation on the draft proposals for the Core Path Network, a requirement on every local authority as part of the Land Reform Act , has been ongoing for some time, and disabled people are being supported to test out some of the paths and to feed comments back to Fife Council. The project aims to identify paths that are accessible for disabled people and to identify work required to bring other paths up to a standard that wheelchair users and others can use. It is recognised that not all paths can be made fully accessible, especially given the hills around Cupar, but it is hoped that a network of paths can be identified which will help local people access the countryside. The project is also a demonstration project and the outcomes and lessons learned will be passed on to other areas in Scotland.

The project is underway in the Cupar and Ceres area and will move on to other parts of North East Fife over the next few months. The project will only be fully successful if disabled people take part and we are actively looking for volunteers to take part in walks. The Fieldfare Trust will be happy to give a presentation to other groups or speak direct to individuals. Anyone interested or wanting further information should contact:

Mike Robinson, Tel: 01334 654080
or email: mike.robinson@fieldfare.org.uk

Working with Volunteers?
Matching Volunteers to Roles and Tasks
The above course is being offered again on
Wed 29 November at Thomson House, Methil.
For more information contact Mary Ray, Volunteer Centre Fife ,on 01334 412998