Discover Freedom of the County

Mobility challenges shouldn’t limit independence, confidence, or enjoyment of everyday life. Freedom of the County is our commitment to helping people with mobility challenges get out, explore, and stay connected with friends and family.

Freedom of the County is a community resource designed to help people overcome barriers to exploring the local area. Mobility issues can sometimes make planning a day out feel daunting. Our aim is to remove uncertainty, provide honest guidance, and help people feel confident about where they can go and what they can enjoy.

Our Venue Guide

Freedom of the County is a directory of Essex landmarks, care-friendly days out, and venues where people might spend a leisurely afternoon or more.

The guide includes:

• Famous Sites around Essex
• Countryside Parks
• Public Gardens and Parklands
• Garden Centres
• Local Museums
• Nature Reserves and more!

Our Recommendations

Along with our general overview of the venue’s facilities, each entry will have a summary of the site’s mobility benefits. This includes a short blurb and a breakdown of the provisions made by each venue and who is catered for. Factors we have considered include:

• Parking – Whether there is onsite parking and disabled access
• Toilets – Many sites will have disabled toilet access while some might not have facilities at all.
• Assistance Dogs – Some sites might have special provisions or request notice be given prior to visitation.
• Visual and Audio – It may be that the site is fully set up to cater to those of poor mobility; however, it may not have provisions in place for those who are hearing/sight impaired.
• Onsite hire – Some businesses may off scooter or wheelchair hire onsite.

We offer a variety of mobility solutions on our website. Each page comes with recommendations of mobility aids suitable for the respective location. For instance, sites like Hadleigh Castle, are unsuitable for wheelchairs and mobility scooters but make for brilliant venues for culture and walking. Therefore, someone who might just need surer footing and a walking stick can still enjoy the site.

Built with the Community

To make this a true community resource, we are looking for your mobility suggestions, reviews and participation to make Freedom of the County the most valuable resource it can be.

By submitting suggestions and feedback, you can share your experience with the community.

Contact

For more information on Freedom of the County, don’t hesitate to get in touch. If you think the resources already provided could be improved, let us know exactly how!