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BRAINTREE VILLAGE HIGHLIGHTS ACCESSIBILITY WITH ICE RINK EVENT
Braintree Village's ice rink has returned for a third year as part of the Essex-based outlet village's Christmas celebrations. Featuring real ice, the 800 square metre custom-built ice rink hosted an inclusive skating session on Wednesday 19th November, with more than 100 guests invited from disability groups across the region. Families attended from Little Havens Hospice, an organisation that provides nursing and supportive care to children and young people living with complex or incurable conditions, as well as families from SNAP Charity, which supports children and young people who have additional needs or disabilities.
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Josef O'Sullivan, Centre Director of Braintree Village, commented: "The ice rink is more than just a festive attraction, it's a space for our guests to create memories, and that means ensuring it's accessible and enjoyable for everyone. We're proud to be fully inclusive, with every skating session being wheelchair friendly, and we host regular quiet sessions.
"Welcoming the groups from Little Havens Hospice and SNAP Charity last night was a true highlight of the year for us. It was wonderful to see so many guests enjoying the ice rink and creating some magical moments to kick off the festive season."
Rachel Franklin, Services Manager at SNAP Charity, added: "We are so grateful to Braintree Village Festive Ice Rink for generously giving SNAP families the chance to enjoy the rink, no matter what their needs. At SNAP, we support families from across the county who have a child or young person with any additional need or disability. Inclusivity is so important to our community and it's wonderful to have such an amazing opportunity for everyone, including those in wheelchairs, to get out on the ice and into the festive spirit! On behalf of everyone at SNAP, thank you for this wonderful event."
Lucy Smith, Family Events Co-ordinator, said: "Thank you to Braintree Village for inviting our Little Havens families to the VIP opening and giving them the chance to take to the ice. It's wonderful to see the rink is wheelchair accessible, making an experience that so many children love available to those who might otherwise miss out. For our children and young people with complex needs, opportunities like this are incredibly special, and it means so much to see them included, supported and able to enjoy such a magical moment."
Stephanie, Mum to Bonnie who is under Little Havens Hospice's care, added: "We never go ice skating at our local rink as it is too busy, and other people don't understand and always stare at my daughter in her wheelchair. It was amazing to have a place where everyone is so understanding and gets it."
The Braintree Village ice rink is now open daily, excluding Christmas Day, until 4th January. Ice-skating sessions are 45-minutes long and are pre-bookable with skate hire included. The ice rink offers quiet sessions, Friday Disco Nights, themed nights, 2-for-1 skates, and parent and toddler sessions. Penguin and seal skating aids are available for hire as well as bob skates to help guests stay steady. For more information and to book, please visit https://www.braintree-village.com/en/the-ice-rink-at-braintree-village
