The Limbless Association: Lunch and Learn, Hertfordshire – Desperately Seeking an Accessible Venue

Myself and the members of the personal injury team here at Hodge Jones & Allen Solicitors are members of the Limbless Association’s Legal Panel. We are honoured to be able to support the Limbless Association in this way.

The Limbless Association undertake invaluable work to support those who have lost a limb, their mission is that “No Amputee Need Cope Alone” and this informs all that they do. It is very much a part of their DNA.

I recently had the pleasure of attending a Limbless Association: Lunch and Learn event at King George’s, Brentwood, Essex.

After attending, I wrote about how fantastic this event was in bringing together amputees to discuss a topic of interest, but also how in the Q&A session at the end, everyone was keen to share the details of their unique and lived experience as an amputee. I was humbled by the generosity with which they shared their personal stories to help others at the event.

After discussion with the CEO of The Limbless Association, Deborah Bent and Network Development Officer, Tracy Ralph, I offered to find a venue to host a Lunch & Learn event in Hertfordshire.

How hard could that be?

Although I have been ably assisted by the HJA marketing department (thank you Monika), every time I think I have homed in on the most suitable venue, a visit reveals otherwise.

I thought I had found the ideal location in a lovely country park, great view and catering, only to find on visiting that although it had advertised a same level car park it was actually on a 30% slope, with an accessible toilet an afterthought.

The majority of lower limb amputees with good prosthetics can of course cope with such a car park but why accept below standard bathroom facilities?

Of course, some amputees who wish to attend may be wheelchair users, making the aforementioned venue not acceptable.

On my visits to venues and in my life in general I have become increasingly aware of the difficulties that some amputees and wheelchair users face in terms of access to train stations, tube stations, and my own weakness, coffee shops!

Across the road from the mainline station that I use to travel to the office a very swanky new café has opened.

What did I see? A large step up to the door, painted in bright colours “watch the step.” Making the shop inaccessible to many.

It also reminded me of the despicable treatment of Tanni Grey-Thompson who last Autumn was forced to crawl off a train.

She had arrived at London’s King Cross on an LNER train. There was no passenger assistance to meet her. Her posting of this on X ( Twitter ) led to numerous responses from others (less well-known) expressing the same experiences.

My search for a suitable venue continues: for level parking, level access, 21st century toilets.

If anyone reading this can offer a venue in the Hertfordshire area, St Albans, Luton, Stevenage, that can host 20-30 people with these facilities (plus decent coffee) that would be fantastic. That said, I would forfeit the decent coffee for all of the above.

In the meantime do check out Lunch & Learn events near you by regularly checking the Limbless Association’s Events Calendar.