One of the biggest social problems in the world right now is disability inclusion, it directly impacts the lives of over one billion people, or approximately 15% of the world’s population. Such a large challenge requires society to unite and people to come together, so it was with great pleasure that the Absolute Mobility team attended Parallel Windsor this July, a celebration of disability inclusion, delivered as an accessible festival.
What is Parallel Windsor?
The Parallel Windsor festival in the UK offers a range of challenge events for individuals of all ages, health conditions, and abilities, focusing on inclusivity. The event takes place in the beautiful Windsor Great Park, on the famous Long Walk right next door to Windsor Castle, providing a fun day for families with various attractions:
- Music
- Arts & Play
- Community & Lifestyle
- Storytelling
- Mind Sports
- Cookery, wellbeing & Mindfulness
- Family zone
- Entertainment
- Travel & Leisure
- RevoLOO accessible toilets
Who is behind Parallel Windsor?
Parallel Windsor is organised and operated by Parallel Lifestyle Limited and founded by Andrew and Claudia Douglass. Parallel aims to create change, promote disability positivity, and facilitate limitless living for everyone. The Parallels team are also behind Purple Sock Day. There aim is to engage the UK with one single act of solidarity - to buy & wear a pair of our purple socks to International Day Of Persons With Disabilities on 3rd December. 50% of all proceeds on these socks will goes towards the Purple Sock Day Fund to support D/deaf, disabled and neurodiverse entrepreneurs. We will be sure to buy ours from BAM clothing soon.
Our Involvement
The Absolute Mobility team attended the event as the main sponsor of Phab. Phab is a UK association of over 120 local clubs with a shared commitment to inclusion and accessibility. Phab Clubs bring together people of all ages, disabled and non-disabled, in convenient locations with volunteer support for various activities and events.
Our team engaged with Parallel Windsor in various ways, our Managing Director Darren swapped his brogues for his trainers to run the 5 km challenge with his son, James our Bathroom Designer and Kevin (the husband of our Operations Manager Sarah) also joined in. The wider team ran a very popular Absolute Mobility themed funfair game where players had to “Knock the Duck Down” with bean bags.
The British Summer was not particularly kind on the day with our challenge competitors running in pouring rain so a good effort there! Luckily our stand was protected from the elements and provided welcome shelter to plenty of visitors over the course of the day.
Experiencing Parallels
As a fully accessible family entertainment event, Parallel Windsor has on-site parking, accessible toilets (including RevoLOOs), medical support, sensory space & quiet space. All support & assistance animals are welcome. Further details can be found on Accessable.co.uk. This popular website offers detailed accessibility guides for many of the UKs best known locations and is regularly updated.
Along with all of the excellent challenge events and activities occurring in each zone Parallel’s features and excellent selection of delicious natural foods and drink, provided by local catering companies, to enjoy in the community picnic area. Items sold by food stalls were listed on the “And it Has” app, a free to use menu service with an allergy and ingredient filter to help visitors order the range of delicious world foods at the event.
On the day the series of challenges ran as follows:
- 10:00 Start
- 10:15 10K
- 10:30 5K
- 12:00 The Greatest Dancer Challenge
- 12:45 1K
- 13:15 100m
- 14:45 SuperSensory 1K
- 16:00 End
Final Thoughts
Whenever we attend accessible events that focus on inclusivity we are always touched to hear about people’s stories and their experiences and inspired by their determination and positivity that disability inclusion will improve. These conversations also provide important insight and ideas into how we can continually improve our service. From additional training for our customer success team, to adjusting the processes our installers follow, we are always listening and continue to strive for excellence.
A big thank you to the team at Phab for inviting us to attend the event and a special mention to our accessible bathroom installer Jamie who handmade our popular “Knock the Duck Down” game. Congratulations to the Parallels team for delivering a really well-run event, we hope to return next year.
Championing Accessibility at Home
At Absolute Mobility we specialise in the design and installation of accessible bathrooms that help people to live independently at home. Established in 2009, we install walk-in baths, level access showers, and accessible wet rooms in peoples homes.
Our company culture is rooted in empathy, compassion and understanding. We recognise that independence and comfort are not luxuries, but a vital necessity that we believe all our customers are entitled to enjoy in their own homes. This ethos drives our dedicated team, from our customer care advisors to our skilled bathroom installers. We are committed to enhancing your living space with minimal disruption and maximum care.
We have been a member of Trading Standards since August 2020 and a member of Which? Trusted Traders since October 2016. From minor adaptations for items such as bath lifts to larger adaptations for things like a room conversion, our hundreds of highly rated reviews prove that we are a safe and reliable choice. We work closely with Occupational Therapists and Case Managers, ensuring the appropriate adaptations assessments are carried out.
Our appointment only showroom in Oxfordshire is the place to view and try out examples of walk-in baths, tub style baths, power baths, shower solutions and wet rooms. Alternatively if you or the person you care for finds travelling a challenge one of our mobile showrooms can bring an example of a walk-in bath to you for demonstration.
Championing Accessibility at Home
At Absolute Mobility we specialise in the design and installation of accessible bathrooms that help people to live independently at home. Established in 2009, we install walk-in baths, level access showers, and accessible wet rooms in peoples homes.
Our company culture is rooted in empathy, compassion and understanding. We recognise that independence and comfort are not luxuries, but a vital necessity that we believe all our customers are entitled to enjoy in their own homes. This ethos drives our dedicated team, from our customer care advisors to our skilled bathroom installers. We are committed to enhancing your living space with minimal disruption and maximum care.
We have been a member of Trading Standards since August 2020 and a member of Which? Trusted Traders since October 2016. From minor adaptations for items such as bath lifts to larger adaptations for things like a room conversion, our hundreds of highly rated reviews prove that we are a safe and reliable choice. We work closely with Occupational Therapists and Case Managers, ensuring the appropriate adaptations assessments are carried out.
Our appointment only showroom in Oxfordshire is the place to view and try out examples of walk-in baths, tub style baths, power baths, shower solutions and wet rooms. Alternatively if you or the person you care for finds travelling a challenge one of our mobile showrooms can bring an example of a walk-in bath to you for demonstration.
