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Tom and Mol Help Create an Inclusive Sensory Walking route
Members of SENDaWelcome's My Community Action Group, Tom and Mol, have been helping to make local parks more welcoming and inclusive by co-designing a new sensory walking route with Your Park, now available on the SENSE website.
Working in partnership with Your Park Bristol & Bath and SENSE, Tom and Mol drew on their lived experience as people with learning disabilities to help shape a route that encourages people to slow down, explore nature through their senses and enjoy the wellbeing benefits of spending time outdoors. The project forms part of a wider ambition to make parks and green spaces more accessible for Disabled people and unpaid carers.
The sensory route invites people to notice the sights, sounds, smells, textures and feelings of the natural environment. It has been designed so that people of all ages and abilities can enjoy a mindful walk, whether on their own, with friends or as part of a group.
Since helping to develop the route, Tom has gone on to lead two sensory walks, sharing his enthusiasm for nature and encouraging others to experience the outdoors in a new way. One took place during Bristol Walk Fest and the other took place during the Festival of Nature, where members of the public joined Tom to discover how connecting with nature through their senses can support wellbeing and confidence.
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Mol has also taken on a leadership role, leading a sensory walk during Learning Disability Week. The walk celebrated the importance of inclusion and demonstrated how people with learning disabilities can lead activities that bring communities together. By sharing her own experiences and encouraging participants to engage with the natural environment, Mol helped create a welcoming space where everyone could enjoy nature at their own pace.
Leading the walks has been a significant achievement for Tom and Mol who have grown in confidence through their involvement with My Community. Guiding groups through the park and sharing their own experiences has shown how people with learning disabilities can become confident leaders and inspire others to see their local environment differently.
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Together, Tom and Mol have demonstrated the value of involving people with lived experience in designing inclusive community activities.
At SENDaWelcome, we believe people with learning disabilities should be at the heart of decisions that affect their lives. Through the My Community Action Group, members develop confidence, leadership skills and opportunities to influence projects that make a real difference in their communities.
We are incredibly proud of Tom and Mol for helping to create a resource that will be enjoyed by many people for years to come. Their work shows that when people with learning disabilities lead, communities become more inclusive, parks become more accessible, and everyone benefits.
Thank you Tom and Mol!
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🌳 Tom and Mol Made a Sensory Walking Route
😊 Who are Tom and Mol?
Tom and Mol are members of My Community.
My Community is an action group at SENDaWelcome.
Tom and Mol have learning disabilities.
🚶 What did they do?
Tom and Mol helped make a sensory walking route.
They worked with Your Park Bristol & Bath and Sense.
The walking route is on the Sense website.
👀 What is a sensory walk?
A sensory walk helps people use their senses.
You can:
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👀 Look at nature.
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👂 Listen to birds.
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🌸 Smell flowers.
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✋ Touch leaves and trees.
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😊 Enjoy being outside.
Everyone can enjoy the walk.
🌿 Tom led sensory walks.
Tom helped make the walking route.
After that, he led 2 sensory walks.
One walk was part of Bristol Walk Fest.
One walk was part of the Festival of Nature.
Tom showed people how to enjoy nature using their senses.
🌼 Mol led a sensory walk too.
Mol also led a sensory walk.
It happened during Learning Disability Week.
Mol helped people enjoy nature together.
She made everyone feel welcome.
💙 Why is this important?
Tom and Mol have become more confident.
They have shown that people with learning disabilities can:
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🌟 Lead activities.
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💬 Share their ideas.
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🤝 Help other people.
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🌳 Make parks better for everyone.
⭐ About My Community
My Community is an action group at SENDaWelcome.
The group helps people:
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Build confidence.
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Learn new skills.
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Become leaders.
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Make their community more inclusive.
❤️ Well done Tom and Mol!
We are very proud of Tom and Mol.
They have helped make parks more welcoming.
They have shown that everyone can make a difference.
Thank you, Tom and Mol! 🌟