A new travel company aims to provide activity holidays for disabled people and their families.
Run by former special needs teacher Mike Ratcliffe and his wife Gill, @Venture will initially offer activities such as adaptive skiing in the French Alps or Pyrenees, canoeing and rafting on the rivers of Europe, and diving or water sports in the Mediterranean.
The company says it will provide English speaking instruction, tuition and support and will provide appropriate accommodation designed to meet the needs of disabled guests, whether they are in a group, school party or with a family.
@Venture says locations for the activities are in some of the most beautiful areas of Gascony, in France, while the choice of accommodation includes gites and chalets.
“Because of my wide experience and depth of knowledge of special needs children I am acutely aware of how difficult holidays can be for this social group,” said Mr Ratcliffe.
“But it is not only children who are often unable to take activity holidays. Many adults find it difficult too.
“In starting @Venture we hope to negate or end this form of disability discrimination.”
Mr Ratcliffe said he believed there was no other travel company catering specifically for this niche, which represented nearly 6% of the working population in the UK.
@Venture plans to start offering holidays this summer in the Gers, south west of Toulouse and within sight of the Pyrenees.
“Due to the level of interest in this project we are planning to offer music, art and sailing holidays, employing local bilingual specialists as well as experienced and qualified English staff,” said Mr Ratcliffe.
@Venture says it has worked with a wide range of UK disability groups to hone the product it plans to offer and adds that holidays can be provided for as little as £400. The company also says it will tailor-make a holiday to the specific needs of a family, group or school if required.
For more information, go to www.atventure.org.uk or email ratcliffe.m@atventure.org.uk