FOR many people with disabilities, opportunities to leave the home rarely extend beyond a trip to a community centre.

But an organisation in Bradford is tackling isolation and loneliness by giving people with disabilities, and older people with mobility problems, the chance to get out and about across the region, along with their carers. The trips not only get people out of their homes, they also have benefits on their health and wellbeing.

Joyce Anderson, information officer with Equality Together Disability Advice Bradford, says: “A change of scene lifts people’s spirits in more ways than one .”

Joyce co-ordinates days out for disabled people of all ages and elderly people, particularly those with mobility problems, and their carers. Every year groups enjoy outings to places and attractions throughout Yorkshire and Humberside. Destinations include The Deep in Hull, Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster, and coastal resorts.

“The Deep was a trip specifically for disabled children,” says Joyce. “They all really enjoyed it.”

Closer to home, one of the most popular outings is a cruise on the Leeds-Liverpool canal, an outing that takes place several times a year, depending upon funding.

“The canal cruises have tremendous health benefits,” says Joyce, “People come on board feeling quite down and over the next five hours we see them change and by the time they get off they are like different people. They have a really good time and manage to relax and thoroughly enjoy themselves.”

The Shipley-based charity has been running trips for three years. “We organise as many as we can fund,” says Joyce, “This year the trips have been more popular than ever - we have had to make reserve lists for the first time, and I am trying to organise further trips . We are constantly looking for funding.”

The charity recently received £1,860 from Sovereign Health Care on Manningham Lane. “This was greatly appreciated,” Says Joyce, “It will pay for two trips this summer - one to Southport and one to Yorkshire Wildlife Park.”

Earlier this year a group enjoyed an outing to the Leeds Grand Theatre to see comedian Dame Edna Everage and another to Bradford's Alhambra theatre to see a production of Calamity Jane.

Roy Williams, of Keighley, took his parents Fred and Joan, who are both in their nineties, on a canal trip.

Having previously worked with the elderly and disabled, Roy - who is his parents’ carer - had been on boat trips before and seen the benefits.

“I have found them very, very good. As far as people’s mental health goes, they are excellent," he says. "They provide the perfect environment for people to relax and talk about old times. Older people can get to know each other and chat. They can sit on the deck and watch the scenery and the ducks and swans - it is very therapeutic.“

He adds: “A lot of people are isolated and don’t leave their homes other than to go occasionally to community centres, so going on a canal boat is very exciting for them. It is a day they will remember.”

The barge has a lift for wheelchair access. Says Joyce: “It is wonderful. People see wildlife that they would not normally see, like kingfishers, herons and all kinds of creatures. It is a very different kind of day out which people would not normally get to experience. “

The trips are available to any disabled person and carer within the Bradford district. Joyce has a database with details of people who may benefit from the outings, and contacts them to ask whether they would be interested. The trips are also open to anyone who contacts the service.

“Some people are quiet and quite subdued when they arrive, but by the time the trip is over they are laughing and joking,” says Joyce. “ It is the same whatever we do. A grandmother brought her disabled granddaughter on one of the theatre trips and they both loved it - the grandmother said that they would not normally have done something like that together.”

She adds: “We would very much like to hear from disabled people with ideas about places they would like to visit.”

* For more information on the trips call Joyce on 01274 594173 or email janderson@disabilityadvice.org.uk.