The Norwegian company Integra are launching a unique new hoist at Naidex 2010 next week (20-22 April) at the NEC in Birmingham. Although not a ceiling hoist, this is fixed and can be operated safely by just one person. It also folds away into a built in cupboard so when not in use it just looks like normal furniture and also provides handy storage for slings etc. It can be supplied in a variety of different colours and finishes and there is also matching furniture. The lines are clean and sleek as you would expect from renowned Scandinavian design.

In my opinion this would be ideal for hotels and guest houses where aesthetics are important and more importantly it overcomes the problem of fixing a track to unsuitable ceiling surfaces as found in many hotels. So no more excuses - lets see more hoists in hotels and accessible accommodation in UK and around the world...

Two new pages have been added to CHuC. One is all about the Changing Places Campaign. Changing Places (CPs) are accessible toilets that also have a height adjustable changing bench and a ceiling track hoist and to date there are approximately 90 around the UK. 90 may seem a high number but spread around the whole UK this is simply not enough. CPs campaign is complimentary to that of CHuC and together we hope to be able to provide places to stay overnight and also the freedom to explore the environment throughout the day without having to stay close to home or the accommodation. You can view the page here  http://www.CHuC.org.uk/changingplaces/

The second page is a map showing the locations of UK accommodation with ceiling track hoists. It is very much a work in progress and may take several more weeks to add all the properties on our accommodation page. Please feel free to try it out and let me have any comments or suggestions and I will try and incorporate them into the final version if possible. http://www.CHuC.org.uk/map/

Hotel Access Factsheet - LONCT (Metric).pdf (362.67 kb)

OpeMed (Europe) Ltd have announced a new Eco ceiling hoist which charges the internal battery every time the hoist is lowered by using a kinetic energy recover system. It is available with manual or powered traverse and also has an emergency mechanical lowering system. You can view the PDF leaflet here http://www.chuc.org.uk/OT200%20Brochure%20vs.pdf

The International Hotel in Telford now has a ceiling track hoist in one of their accessible rooms. Ideally situated for visiting Ironbridge and the surrounding area as well as the adjacent International Centre for exhibitions and events. More information on this coming soon

http://www.southwatereventgroup.com/international-hotel-telford for the hotel website.

We have started a new page on CHuC and we want you to submit reviews of ceiling track hoists and their suppliers. Does the hoist do everything promised? Does it have any strange quirks? Was the service from the supplier / manufacturer what you expected of them? Send us your honest coments, good or bad, and we will add them to the new page. Please feel free to add photos if they would help illustrate a point.

Steve Catlin
CHuC Admin

I teach in a school for students with severe learning and physical disabilities. I would like to take my class on a residential break preferably no more than 4 hours travelling from the West Midlands. As four of my students are wheelchair users, hoists are necessary as is accomomdation for carers. Does anyone know of any suitable accommodation (which is reasonably priced as most of the cost will have to be fund-raised/sponsored).

Name: Shirley Hardle

E-mail: shirleyhardle@btinternet.com

We know how reluctant hotels are to install hoists in their accessible rooms. However, there is a hotel in the heart of Shakespeare country that is interested and we are looking for a commericial (or private) sponsor to part fund the hoist installation to get this off the ground...(no pun intended!). It is all subject to survey to ensure the room is physically suitable and we are looking for £1500-£2000 to go ahead with this project. For any commercial sponsors you would get some publicity on CHuC and through the disability media and would prove you take your corporate social responsibity seriously. Go on - you know it makes sense....

We would also be happy to look at any other offers for different parts of the country. We have proved that trials like these are successful and lead to more hoists being installed once the hotel sees the commercial potential. For such a small amount you can make such a difference!

A couple in Llanfair near Lampeter in Wales are trying to get planning permission to construct 4 log cabins on their 10 acre property. The 2 bedroom cabins will have full ceiling track hoists from the bedroom to the bathroom and will be offered as self catering holiday accommodation. Their initial planning application is going to be turned down as the authorities are saying there is no evidence that accommodation of this sort is needed!

As part of the information pack supplied to the planning authority were over 35 e-mails from Tourist Information Centres around the UK stating that they could not find accommodation for 3 people with severe mobility difficulties to go on holiday together.

If you would welcome such a property as an addition to the small but growing portfolio of accessible properties with ceiling track hoists in the UK please contact the owner (Lin Plevy) and offer your support. This is a project which should not be defeated by beauracratic planning authorities who have no idea of the needs of disabled people.

We are still looking for information on any type of accommodation with a ceiling track hoist. This should preferably be a hoist above the bed for transfer from chair to bed and vice versa and also a continuous track into the bathroom or at least a separate tracking hoist in the bathroom. We will also list those with a ceiling hoist in the bedroom and a roll-in shower.

There must be more places out there that we are not aware of! I would especially like to find more places throughout Europe and the rest of the world.  Please, please, please let us know so we can share it with the disabled community throughout the world. Just reply to this message or send me an e-mail.

Steve Catlin (CHuC Webmaster) admin@CHuC.org.uk

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) will be at the Mobility Roadshow 2009 from 4th to 6th June at Kemble Airfield. They will be promoting their accessible accommodation which includes 6 rooms with ceiling track hoists across 5 of their flagship hotels. They will also be giving away 500 reusable 'green' goody bags which will include a leaflet about CHuC along with all the other information and gifts. There will also be a transportable hoist to hand, courtesy of Westholme, so you can see the type of hoist fitted in the rooms.

I hope to be able to get down to the Mobility Roadshow on 5th June so if there is anything you want to talk about regarding CHuC or ceiling hoists in general then please contact me via the IHG Stand No. D13

Steve Catlin (CHuC Webmaster)

The photo was taken today (5th June) at the roadshow.  

Click on the photo to view it full size >>>  

Crieff Hydro in Perthshire, Scotland, now has a luxury self catering cottage with a ceiling track hoist between the bedroom and bathroom. Details and photos are available on the CHuC Accommodation page. Crieff is within easy reach of both Glasgow and Edinburgh.