Who can join the Tees Wheelyboats Club?

Any member of the public upon application and acceptance are eligible to join the TWC - no knowledge or experience of things nautical are required. Several types of membership can be offered to accommodate the widest possible range of people:

• VOLUNTEER MEMBER - a person who volunteers to join the Club to assist the Club in achieving its stated object.
• ACTIVE MEMBER - a person, who, at the date of joining is over the age of Eighteen years and has no need of a Carer or any third party support with regard to activities associated with the Club.
• REPRESENTING MEMBER – a person, who, at the date of joining is over the age of eighteen years who has been nominated to represent and care for an Individual, a Group or a patient of a Care Home, Day Centre, Hospital or Hospice.
• VISITING MEMBER – a person who accompanied by their nominated REPRESENTING MEMBER visits the Club.
• TEMPORARY MEMBER – a person who satisfies the requirements of membership but in the opinion of the Committee cannot be reasonably expected to join the club.

What is a Wheelyboat?

The Wheelyboat has been specially designed with a bow door that is hinged and lowers to form a ramp enabling ‘roll-on, roll-off’ access, to accommodate disabled people and wheelchair users in particular, easily and safely.

Who can use a Wheelyboat?

Any member of the TWC - membership of the TWC is required to make a booking of the boat.

Any member of the public who contacts the club via the methods described on the booking page.

The Wheelyboat is suitable for all people who make use of a wheelchair and who may be accompanied by a carer, family or friends to ensure their individual enjoyment can be shared.

NB. The TWC cannot under any circumstances accept any duty or responsibility related to the caring or medical needs any individual.

How will a Wheelyboat be used?

The Wheelyboat will be available to members of the public who have mobility impairment irrespective of age, medical condition or where they reside. Boarding and disembarking will be assisted by trained volunteer members of TWC who crew the boat. Appropriate safety equipment will be provided and must be used adjacent to and in the boat.

Utilisation of the wheelyboat will be via a booking system available to Club members and the public.

Why is a Wheelyboat needed?

SBC’s strategy is to encourage wider utilisation of the river and thus by default this must include providing access by mobility impaired people.

There are no means of access for the mobility impaired public onto the river Tees. Thus they are still disenfranchised, after many years of river impoundment, from the pleasure available to others, i.e., that of boating on the river Tees.

Where will Wheelyboats be based?

The River Tees Watersports Centre is the best location available that has a slipway which is suitable for wheelchair users and the Wheelyboats. The TWC is a member club of this centre.