Inclusive social and leisure activities in Richmond upon Thames

This UK Disability History Month, learn about accessible attractions and activities in the borough, provided to ensure our disabled residents of all ages can benefit from and enjoy local arts, culture and leisure activities.

Running from 14 November to 20 December, UK Disability History Month is an annual period to raise awareness about disabled people’s fight for equality and human rights. 

In a recent blog, Cllr Margaret Dane outlines her priorities as Disability Champion to bring local efforts together to continue strengthening disability support. 

Read on for more information about the variety of disability-friendly facilities and activities available around the borough:

Friendly Parks for All

The innovative model of accessible Friendly Parks for All has been developed in six parks in the borough. It aims to improve the impact, reach and quality of access to parks and open spaces in the borough to residents who experience barriers to access.

The Friendly Parks for All initiative also offers a variety of regular monthly activities across the borough including wellbeing walks, an accessible walk and accessible litter picks. 

Recent work has focused on improving access to Kneller Gardens in Twickenham for blind and visually impaired users. This includes a trail installation featuring 12 posts with an interpretation panel that describes the trees and provides information about the biodiversity, history and culture related to the tree species or individual tree--all in raised text and in braille.

Currently, we’re working in partnership with Richmond Mencap’s Working Together Group and members of the wider community to install an accessible outdoor gym in East Twickenham’s Cambridge Gardens. We’re also working with Richmond Mencap to design a food growing area and sensory garden with seating in Cambridge Gardens overlooking the Thames, which should be in place in spring 2025. 

Inclusive sports and fitness

Free accessible cycling sessions are held every other week in Kneller Gardens in West Twickenham. Our Parks team and Richmond upon Thames Inclusive Sport and Exercise (RISE) programme partner with Bikeworks CIC to offer these sessions. The initiative aims to boost participants’ physical and mental wellbeing through short rides at the park and linked green spaces. 

Supported by the Crane Fund, adapted cycles are provided to participants for their use during the free cycling sessions. There are sessions during school holidays so families can enjoy cycling together.

In addition to cycling sessions, RISE offers a wide range of inclusive activities for people of all ages with special educational needs and disabilities, including football, swimming, dancing sessions and more. 

Richmond is full of diverse opportunities for you to get more active. Visit our Richmond Moves page to explore opportunities in the community that will help you move more.

Check out the London Sport map for activities that meet your needs, you can filter by your area, availability, accessibility needs and location to find low and no-cost ways to get moving that suits you. 

You can find your nearest community centre with Ruils’ Joy App, where you can filter by accessibility needs and additional needs such as learning difficulties, dementia and more. 

Orleans House Gallery

Orleans House Gallery is committed to making art accessible to everyone, without limitations. The Access Working Group at is dedicated to making the gallery more accessible and welcoming for everyone, which includes conducting regular access audits to identify barriers and solutions, leading to facility improvements like automatic doors and clearer step markings, as well as improvements to their website and social media accounts, which has included offering social media stories to ease anxiety for SEND visitors.

AccessAble

Everyone’s accessibility needs are different. To provide residents and visitors with detailed and accurate information on venue access, we have partnered with AccessAble to create online access guides. The free online access guides provide accessibility information on over 200 local places to help maximise independence and choice for people with disabilities. Read our recent partner blog to learn more about AccessAble.