About Us
Oswestry & District Access Group is a voluntary group that has been working for over 18 years to improve access and facilities for all those who are either resident in or visiting Oswestry. In particular, we are focused on supporting mothers with young children, people with disabilities, the partially sighted and the hard of hearing.
The Access Group began in 1989 following several people being invited to a meeting held by Social Services to discuss the needs of the disabled in Oswestry. As a result of the discussions at this initial meeting, it was agreed that there was unquestionably a need for disabled people to be involved in access issues within the community.
At the time people had found freedom with scooters or powered wheelchairs to get around only to find they couldn't get off pavements or into shops. Four people attended the first meeting and two of us remain members. And as a result we have endeavoured to explain to the public that our goal is not to be able to get more advantages from life than the able bodied - we simply want the same opportunities.
Our membership has continually grown and indeed so have our challenges. We meet on a monthly basis and our involvement with various projects continues to develop. We share workloads, meaning each member takes turns to carry out the initial survey and they then take it back to the committee.
We have created a positive relationship with both the Borough and Town Councils and both bodies send their representatives to our meetings. Furthermore, we are a member of the Oswestry Market Town Initiative, the Town Centre Partnership and the Crime Reduction Partnership. And when the County Access Group is reformed, we shall be represented.
In 2003, we produced an Access guide for disabled visitors to the town. It was full of helpful information and proved very useful to disabled residents and therefore we are now looking to produce another.
Finally we are running a campaign to make Oswestry one of the most accessible towns in Shropshire. The campaign entitled "Access for All" is planned to run until at least the end of 2012.
If you have any access issues we would welcome the opportunity to hear from you. Simply send your details to info@access-oswestry.org.uk and we always welcome new members to the group.
We meet on the second Tuesday of every month (except August) at the Memorial Hall, Smithfield Street, Oswestry from 10.30-12 midday.
Anyone who is interested in access issues is welcome - therefore, if you are disabled, have someone in the family who is disabled, have a young child in a pram or pushchair or you would simply like to know more, then please get in touch...
