Beach equipment loan scheme
The beach equipment loan scheme is a free service from Mae Murray Foundation providing the opportunity to borrow a range of mobility equipment suited to the beach environment.
Our work to make Portstewart Strand an Inclusive Beach
We’ve been working in partnership with Mae Murray Foundation to make our places on the north coast inclusive and ensure people of all ages and abilities can enjoy them.
Portstewart Strand is proud to have been recognised as an Inclusive Beach since June 2022, enabling local families who have never been for a walk on the beach before to visit.
It came after the opening of a new Changing Places facility that was completed in partnership with Mae Murray Foundation, with help from DAERA funding.
With the new facility situated where the male toilets had previously been, the decision was taken to convert the remaining space into gender neutral toilets in place of separate male and female facilities.
It also followed the purchase of new mobility beach equipment and an increased number of Blue Badge parking spaces on the beach.
According to Mae Murray Foundation, an inclusive beach is one where people of all ages and abilities can take part, have fun, and be included.
Inclusive Beaches also offer free beach equipment loan schemes. Visitors pre-book the equipment online but the service is completely free.
As well as this, Mae Murray Foundation often host events and activities, This may include beach fun days, surf days, litter picking events amongst others.
Since becoming an Inclusive Beach, we’ve continued to learn from users, including adding beach mats so that wheelchair users could move from their cars to the toilets without getting stuck in the sand.
A floating chair can also be used at events in partnership with Mae Murray Foundation.
Going forward, we plan to continue to increase the inclusive play offer and events held at Portstewart Strand.