Disability services

This page provides information about local services and opportunities aiming to improve access for disabled people in the Vale of White Horse, including:

"Access to Leisure" passes - If you live in the Vale and receive particular benefits which relate to your disability (e.g. disabled living) or you are registered as a disabled person, you can apply for a free "Access to Leisure" pass. This offers you an approximate 30 per cent discount from the published fees and charges during off peak time.

The pass operates at the following four council-owned leisure centres:

  • Faringdon
  • Wantage
  • The White Horse Leisure and Tennis Centre, Abingdon
  • Abingdon and Tilsley Park, Abingdon
  • Abbey meadows outdoor swimming pool 

Find out more by going to our Access to Leisure Pass page.

Access guide for local leisure centres - Residents in the Vale can get hold of a guide which aims to provide detailed access information about the council's leisure centres in the district.

The free guide provides useful and clear information about the availability of accessible toilets and changing facilities, hearing loops, automatic entrance doors, accessible lifts and more.

You can download a copy of the guide from the right of the page. Free copies are also available at any of the council's leisure centres or you can pick up a copy of the guide at our Local Service Points.

Assisted travel and bus passes

The Council offers assisted travel schemes to help older and disabled people travel around the Vale. These schemes include a free bus pass to eligible residents and reimbursed costs for travel to and from hospitals for people on certain benefits.

For more information, go to the Assisted travel and bus passes page of our website.

Assisted waste collection service

If you have difficulties putting out your rubbish and recycling due to a disability and there is no one else to put it out for you, we can help. We can arrange for our waste collection team to collect your rubbish and recycling from your doorstep (rather than from the road side).

To find out if you are eligible for this service, please contact the Council on 01235 520202 or email waste.team@southandvale.gov.uk

Disabled Facilities Grant

If you are having problems living in your home because of a disability, you may be eligible for a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG). The Grant can be used to pay for suitable adaptations to your property (up to £25,000) to enable you to continue living there without hindrance.

The council, with the support of Social Services, provides this mandatory grant.

For more information, please go to the Disabled Facilities Grant page of our website.

Emergency preparedness tips for disabled people

In the event of an emergency, it is helpful if a disabled person can let emergency staff know that they have an impairment and inform them of any particular access needs they may have. There are also a number of things that disabled people can do to help prepare themselves for an emergency - for further information please see Emergency preparedness for disabled people. For more general advice about emergencies, please see our Emergencies page.

Nationwide online access register

Direct Enquiries is a nationwide access register providing people with an easy to use directory of locations across the country based on their access needs. For example, if somebody wanted to find restaurants with an accessible toilet in a particular town, they could tailor their search by clicking on the accessible toilet icon. Visit http://www.directenquiries.com/ (will open in new window)" target="_blank">www.directenquiries.com if you would like to find out more.

Oxfordshire disability directory

This free directory provides useful information on a wide range of local services and opportunities which aim to support disabled people in the Vale.

You can download a copy of this leaflet from the right-hand side of this page.

Safe Journey card

Please use this card with your bus ticket and/or concessionary pass to let the driver know what help or support you need.

Last reviewed: 30 - 04 - 2013

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