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ACCESSIBILITY


At Mendip Activity Centre, we believe that everyone should have the opportunity to challenge themselves and undertake adventurous activities.

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If you think you'll need additional support during your experience with us, it’s important that you let us know prior to booking an activity. Please email info@mendip.co.uk in advance so that we can make adjustments to accommodate you and your group. This might include additional equipment and different levels of supervision.

 

All our activities have varying degrees of physical and mental challenge to them and some require a small level of fitness. All our instructors hold first aid qualifications but are not always qualified to assess the capacity of participants who may require additional support. It remains your responsibility to undertake an assessment of the risks involved prior to and during participation. 

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ADDITIONAL SUPPORT​

For some groups, booking a private session may be more appropriate if a participant has additional needs. Here are a few examples of when additional support has allowed for safe participation:


SENSORY

This includes Visual Impairment and Hearing Impairment. Most of our pre-activity safety briefs can be communicated using visual aids and simple adjustments if you give us notice to ensure these are in place. You may like to bring signers/ translators or hearing companions; we do not have translators. Depending on the severity of the participant's visual impairment, you may need additional instructors to support you and keep you safe.   The level of this additional sighted support will depend on a number of factors including the degree of impairment and age of the participant.

 

PHYSICAL DISABILITY

We are very fortunate to be situated in the stunning Mendip Hills. Unfortunately, this does come with its limitations in terms of accessibility. If you use prosthetics, the security of prosthetics at height and in the water needs to be considered. If you can comfortably travel around uneven land then you will be able to visit most of our sites. Some of our activities can be accessed with all-terrain off-road wheelchairs. Regrettably, some of our sites are not suited for wheelchair users or individuals with disabled mobility.  It is possible to use specialist equipment for activities such as skiing, rock climbing, abseiling and canoeing. 

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NEURODIVERSITY & INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY AND
BEHAVIOURAL & LEARNING NEEDS

Depending on the participants, you may need additional instructors to support you and keep you safe.  If a participant is unable to remain attentive during safety briefings, the activity may not be suitable. Consideration must be taken for any participants that are under-prescribed medication and whether this could affect them. 

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MINIMUM SAFETY REQUIREMENT​


Safety brief

All participants will be given briefings on how to undertake the activity safely. All participants must be able to interpret and observe a 15-minute safety brief.  Participants are required to understand the consequences of not following our strict safety rules and advice. Instructors will be present the entire time and participants will be required to follow their instructions throughout the whole session.

VENUES: Mendip Activity Centre

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  1. Accessibility
    Our main activity centre building is lift-accessible. There is an accessible toilet on the first floor. The top floor is the café, and the first floor has access to the ski slope.
     

  2. Frisbee Golf
    Frisbee Golf takes place on rough terrain and requires participants to walk on uneven, muddy ground. Some of the course may be accessible by all-terrain off-road wheelchairs.
     

  3. Try Caving (Sandford Levy)
    The cave is a 15-minute walk from the centre. Participants will need to slide into the cave and then will be required to walk.
     

  4. Archery, Air Rifle & Axe Throwing
    Our target sports sites can all be accessed by off-road wheelchairs. Standard wheelchairs may be able to access these sports sites. Participants will need to hold onto bows, arrows, or axes and use their body weight to draw back or throw the device.
     

  5. Bushcraft
    Our bushcraft site is a short walk into the woodland up a track. Participants will be creating fire and potentially using bushcraft knives under the supervision and instruction of instructors. They must be able to understand the potential risks.
     

  6. Snow sports
    For skiing and snowboarding sessions, participants will need to be able to put on ski boots or snowboarding boots. Participants with poor coordination and balance may find that it takes them longer to complete our lessons.  We can run snowsport sessions for participants with additional physical needs. As an example, we have run sessions for visually impaired participants and participants with limb difference.
     

  7. Tobogganing
    Regrettably, the toboggan slope is not currently accessible by wheelchair. Our age limits for individual spaces booked on the tobogganing slope must be strictly adhered to.

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VENUES: Sandford Quarry

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  1. Accessibility
    The quarry can be accessed by vehicle. The top of the abseil can be accessed by an off-road wheelchair. Every year from April to October, we instal portaloo-style toilets. These are not accessible toilets.
     

  2. Rock Climbing
    Participants will be required to climb a rock face; this can be likened to climbing a slippery ladder.
     

  3. Abseiling
    Participants will be required to balance and put their feet against the roc    k face. With additional adjustments and notice, we are able to run wheelchair abseils.

VENUES: Hewish, Watersports

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  1. Accessibility
    Hewish can be accessed by vehicle. There are portaloo-style toilets but not disabled toilets.
     

  2. Kayaking, Canoeing, Paddle Boarding and Raft Building
    Participants will, as a minimum, be required to sit or kneel on the craft. Participants will need to be able to have some control over balance. They will need to be able to support their body weight in order to get back onto the craft in the event of capsize. We can run some watersports sessions for participants with additional physical needs.
     

  3. Assault Course
    Participants will need to be able to climb, crawl and slide their way around the course. Each element of the course will be treated as an individual activity and briefed in such a way.

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VENUES: Burrington Combe

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  1. Accessibility
    Burrington Combe can be accessed by vehicle. There are toilets but not accessible toilets.
     

  2. Caving
    Participants will be required to walk up a steep hill to access the cave. In the cave, participants will climb low rock faces, pull on ropes, slide and crawl.

VENUES: Mendip Lodge

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  1. Accessibility
    Mendip Lodge can be accessed by vehicle. There are toilets in the general public area but not disabled toilets. There is an accessible room and bathroom as part of our accommodation. Accommodation is on the first floor; its main access is by steps but it is wheelchair accessible by an alternative entrance.

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VENUES: Mendip Basecamp

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  1. Accessibility
    Our campsite is situated on rough land, without pavements. Access through our woodland paths is on uneven, woodchipped paths. We have two family accessible toilet and shower rooms.

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Read more on Mendip Basecamp's website.

CATERING: Dietary Needs

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Our catering team can cater to various dietary needs and requirements, including vegan, halal and gluten-free diets and allergies.

 

Visiting the Alpine Lounge? Download the menu in advance and let our team know about any dietary requirements you have.

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Booking an event or a residential? Our team will request any dietary needs ina advance of your visit so that we can cater to them.

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