Re:establish welcomes people of all abilities following Knight Frank-funded accessibility project.
A small grassroots South Leeds charity has transformed its community hub (The Loft) into a fully inclusive venue, enabling it to welcome wheelchair users and people with mobility challenges for the first time.
Re:establish, which runs youth clubs, mentoring, trips, creative sessions, cooking classes, facilitates dance sessions and offers community support, can now offer a wheelchair accessible environment following the installation of a platform stair lift at The Loft, which was funded by Knight Frank through its Limitless Programme.
Previously, three flights of stairs totalling 22 steps had prevented wheelchair users from easily accessing the upper-level venue. Despite approaching several lift providers, the charity struggled to find an access solution that could navigate the narrow staircase and tight corners of two landings within its budget.
The breakthrough came when Level Access Lifts identified during a site survey that moving a dividing wall by just 20cm would enable the installation of its curved platform stair lift GTLE product.
Since the installation, the charity has welcomed many wheelchair users to participate in their activities, with one visitor claiming it is their “favourite lift ever”. Re:establish has also attracted new business with diverse organisations now hiring the community space, including dance group Dazl who have four wheelchair users.
Nee Sharma, Music Lead/Youth and Community Worker at Re:establish, said:
“We are so grateful to Knight Frank for their funding and to Level Access Lifts for their expertise. Being able to offer wheelchair access to our community space means we can fully embrace our ethos that everyone is welcome. It also means we can continue with our long-term vision of creating a fully accessible salon where people can develop new skills.”
Knight Frank Leeds Office said:
“We’re proud of the impact our Limitless programme is having across the UK and here in Leeds. Through the partnership with Re:establish, Knight Frank, and Level Access Lifts, we’re opening up access to outstanding facilities and ensuring more young people in South Leeds benefit from this fantastic charity.”
This post is based on a press release issued on behalf of Re:establish
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