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Gwella Mynediad i Bobl Anabl ar Lynnoedd a Chronfeydd Dŵr Cymru / Improving Disability Access on Welsh Lakes and Reservoirs
Canoe Wales • 21 June 2021
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Gwella Mynediad i Bobl Anabl ar Lynnoedd a Chronfeydd Dŵr Cymru
Gydag arian grant gan Lywodraeth Cymru, mae Canŵ Cymru yn gosod pontynau hygyrch mewn pum safle chwaraeon padlo allweddol ledled Cymru: Llandegfedd, Cosmeston, Llandysul, Plas y Brenin a Llyn Padarn. Gyda thri o'r pontynau hyn eisoes wedi'u gosod, a dau arall i'w gosod yr haf hwn, mae Cymru bellach yn llawer mwy hygyrch i bobl anabl sy’n awyddus i gymryd rhan mewn chwaraeon padlo.
"Gweld yr angen a chwilio'n ddyfal am gyfle oedd y ffactorau a ysgogodd y prosiect," meddai Phil Stone, Rheolwr Lleoedd i Badlo Canŵ Cymru. "Ar yr adeg yr oeddem yn cynllunio'r prosiect, nid oedd unrhyw safleoedd lansio canŵ na chaiac cwbl hygyrch i gadeiriau olwyn yng Nghymru. Er bod nifer fach o safleoedd lle’r oedd pontynau safonol, rampiau mynediad neu draethau yn ei gwneud yn bosibl i gadeiriau olwyn gael mynediad, yn logistaidd roedd yn gallu bod yn anodd iawn, ac roedd offer yn cael ei ddifrodi," meddai Phil. "Roedd hyn yn gwneud pethau'n anodd iawn i redeg ein prosiect Paddleability, sy'n anelu at ddarparu cyfleoedd i bobl anabl fynd ar y dŵr mewn caiac neu ganŵ. Felly, yn hytrach na derbyn y status quo, penderfynon ni wneud rhywbeth yn ei gylch."
Mae'r arian grant gan Lywodraeth Cymru yn ein galluogi i osod pontynau gyda system EZ-Launch, system lansio arloesol ar gyfer canŵ gyda sedd drosglwyddo integredig sy'n caniatáu i ddefnyddwyr cadeiriau olwyn symud yn rhwydd i’r cychod. Lle bo angen, mae'r prosiect hefyd wedi cynnwys unrhyw waith angenrheidiol i baratoi sylfeini ac adeiladu llwybrau i hwyluso mynediad annibynnol i gadeiriau olwyn o'r maes parcio i'r pontŵn.
"Yn y pen draw, mae'r prosiect wedi gwneud Cymru'n arweinydd yn y DU o ran seilwaith hygyrch ar gyfer chwaraeon padlo – gan greu rhwydwaith cenedlaethol o safleoedd hygyrch nad oedd eu tebyg mewn mannau eraill yn yr Alban neu Loegr," meddai Phil. Ond pam mae hyn yn bwysig i Canŵ Cymru?
"Mae creu cyfleoedd hygyrch ar gyfer cymryd rhan mewn chwaraeon padlo yn bwysig dros ben i Canŵ Cymru" meddai Alistair Dickson, Prif Weithredwr Canŵ Cymru. "Mae chwaraeon padlo yn ffordd mor wych o fwynhau'r golygfeydd anhygoel sydd gennym yma yng Nghymru, ac i ddatblygu lles corfforol a meddyliol, ac rydym ni am i gynifer o bobl â phosibl gael y cyfle i gymryd rhan.”
“Ar sail ein harolwg cydraddoldeb blaenorol gwelwyd mai dim ond 9.5% o'n haelodaeth sy'n nodi bod ganddynt nam (gan gynnwys nam ar y clyw a'r golwg). Mae hyn yn erbyn amcangyfrif cenedlaethol o 17.9%, felly gwyddom fod nifer sylweddol o bobl anabl yn wynebu rhwystrau mawr rhag cymryd rhan mewn chwaraeon dŵr fel canŵio a chaiacio. Ein camau cyntaf yw dileu'r rhwystrau ffisegol i gymryd rhan mewn chwaraeon."
"Bydd y pontynau’n ein galluogi i drefnu sesiynau cynhwysol i bobl ag anableddau ledled Cymru gydag offer addasol yr ydym hefyd wrthi'n ei brynu. Yn dilyn hynny, rydym yn hyderus y byddwn yn cefnogi cymuned o badlwyr sy'n fwy cynrychioliadol o'r boblogaeth genedlaethol, sy'n bwysig iawn i ni" meddai Alistair i gloi.
Mae'r prosiect hefyd wedi denu sylw o fannau eraill yn sector chwaraeon Cymru. Dywedodd Tom Rogers, Rheolwr Partneriaeth Chwaraeon Anabledd Cymru:
"Mae budd gweithgarwch corfforol i iechyd corfforol a meddyliol yn hysbys iawn. Yn anffodus, mae hygyrchedd yn aml yn rhwystr sylweddol i bobl anabl sy'n ceisio cael gafael ar y buddion yma. Bydd y prosiect cyffrous yma i osod cyfleusterau lansio canŵ sy'n hygyrch i gadeiriau olwyn ledled Cymru yn sefydlu Cymru fel arweinydd balch mewn cyfleusterau hamdden cyhoeddus cynhwysol a hygyrch, gan sicrhau’r buddion yma i ddefnyddwyr cadeiriau olwyn.”
Wrth gwrs, bydd yn rhaid i ddefnydd cyhoeddus o'r cyfleusterau hyn fod yn unol ag unrhyw reoliadau COVID-19 sydd ar waith ar y pryd.
Os hoffech chi neu unrhyw un rydych chi'n ei adnabod gymryd rhan mewn chwaraeon padlo a bod gennych anabledd, cysylltwch â Canŵ Cymru yn admin@canoewales.com a byddwn yn hapus i helpu.
Improving Disability Access on Welsh Lakes and Reservoirs
With grant funding from Welsh Government, Canoe Wales is installing accessible pontoons at five key paddlesport sites across Wales: Llandegfedd, Cosmeston, Llandysul, Plas y Brenin and Llyn Padarn. With three of these pontoons already installed, and another two planned to be installed this summer, Wales is now much more accessible for disabled people who would like to try and to participate in paddlesports.
“Identifying a need and proactively seeking an opportunity was the catalyst for the project” says Phil Stone, Canoe Wales Places to Paddle Manager. “At the time of us designing the project, there were no fully wheelchair accessible canoe or kayak launch sites in Wales. While there were a small number of sites where standard pontoons, access ramps or beaches make wheelchair access possible, logistically it could be really difficult, and equipment was getting damaged” said Phil. “This was making things really difficult to run our Paddleability project, which aims to provide opportunities for disabled people to get on the water in a kayak or canoe. So, rather than accept the status quo, we decided to do something about it.”
The grant funding from Welsh Government is enabling us to install pontoons with an EZ-Launch system, an innovative canoe launch system with an integrated transfer bench seat that allows wheelchair users to easily transfer into a boat. Where required, the project has also included any groundworks and path construction necessary to enable independent wheelchair access from the carpark to the pontoon.
“The project has ultimately made Wales a leader in the UK in accessible infrastructure for paddlesport – creating a nationwide network of accessible sites unparalleled elsewhere in Scotland or England” Phil went on to say. But why is this important to Canoe Wales?
“Creating accessible opportunities for participating in paddlesports in really important for Canoe Wales” says Alistair Dickson, Canoe Wales CEO. “Paddlesports are such a great way to enjoy the amazing scenery we have here in Wales, and to develop your physical and mental wellbeing, that we want as many people to have the opportunity to take part as possible.”
“Our previous equality survey identified that just 9.5% of our membership identify themselves as having an impairment (including hearing and visual impairments). This is against a national estimate of 17.9%, so we know a significant number of disabled people face major barriers getting involved in water-based sports like canoeing and kayaking. Our first steps are to remove the physical obstacles to participation.”
“The pontoons will allow us to organise inclusive sessions for people with disabilities all across Wales with adaptive equipment that we are also in the process of buying. Following which, we are confident we will be supporting a community of paddlers more representative of the national population, which is really important to us” Alistair concluded.
The project has also attracted attention from elsewhere within the Welsh sport sector. Tom Rogers, Partnership Manager of Disability Sports Wales, said:
“The benefits of physical activity on physical and mental health are well known. Unfortunately, accessibility is often a significant barrier for disabled people looking to access these benefits. This exciting project to install fully wheelchair accessible canoe launch facilities across Wales will establish Wales as a proud leader in inclusive and accessible public recreation facilities, unleashing these benefits for wheelchair users.”
Public use of these facilities will of course have to be in line with any COVID-19 regulations in place at the time.
If you or anyone you know would like to get involved in paddlesports and has a disability, contact Canoe Wales at admin@canoewales.com and we will be happy to help.
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