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Accessible Clothing Project Receives Funding Boost



People living with disabilities and age-related mobility challenges will be able to enjoy improved independence thanks to a project that adapts everyday clothing to meet their individual needs.


Sharon Tombs and the team at Dressability are expanding their Mobility Matters project, helping more people stay comfortable and confident in the clothes they choose to wear.


Based in Wiltshire, Dressability is a specialist garment adaptation charity that works with disabled and older people throughout the UK. Its skilled dressmakers make custom alterations that help clients dress more independently, move safely and maintain their own personal style without compromising comfort while using mobility aids.


The Mobility Matters project focuses on removing the barriers that standard clothing can create, such as trip hazards or loose pieces catching on wheelchairs, that most of us never need to think about.


The adaptations made by Sharon and her colleagues range from replacing fiddly fastenings such as shirt buttons with magnetic alternatives, adjusting garments for wheelchair users, accommodating spinal curvature and reinforcing clothing for children who achieve mobility through crawling.


By tailoring garments to meet individual mobility needs, the charity helps people reduce reliance on others and remain active in everyday life. The service also supports dignity, choice and self-esteem, ensuring that functionality does not come at the expense of personal identity and style.


The project has received a £2,490 donation from the Allied Vehicles Charitable Trust, the charitable branch of the UK’s largest manufacturer and seller of wheelchair accessible vehicles, Allied Mobility.


The funding will help Dressability to adapt more than 30 garments for people who need them, and continue delivering its specialist service to people whose quality of life can be improved through carefully considered clothing adaptations.


Sharon Tombs, General Manager at Dressability, said:

"A huge thank you to the Allied Vehicles Charitable Trust for their donation. We are entirely reliant on the support of organisations such as these to deliver this valuable service."

"We will use the money carefully and effectively as part of our Mobility Matters project, enabling us to alter many more garments."


Ben Jenkins, National Sales Manager at Allied Mobility, said:

"At Allied Mobility, we supply wheelchair accessible vehicles to customers across the UK and we understand how important independence and personal choice are to people's daily lives."

"Style and comfort needn’t be given up in the name of accessibility. We are delighted to support Dressability’s Mobility Matters project as it helps bridge the gap, ensuring more people can wear the clothes they love while maintaining comfort and dignity."


The funding will help ensure more people can access clothing adapted to their personal needs, allowing them to move more freely, maintain their own individual style and enjoy greater confidence in everyday life.



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Nov 21, 2023
3 min read

A highly-respected nuclear decommissioning and engineering business which delivers sustainable solutions for industry is celebrating winning a prestigious award.


React Engineering has developed a reputation across the UK and beyond for delivering pioneering, high quality, engineering and project management solutions in nuclear decommissioning and environmental clean-up, and achieving those outcomes in the most sustainable way possible.


At the Britain’s Energy Coast Business Cluster (BECBC) Awards on Thursday night, surrounded by peers of engineering and manufacturing specialists, many in the nuclear supply chain, React took the honours with the top accolade on the night when crowned ‘Business of The Year’.

Phil Redfern, React’s Managing Director, said:

“I am proud of every member of the team at React who have all contributed to this amazing success and this award is thanks to each and every one of them."

“We believe in empowering our people, encouraging entrepreneurial spirit, giving our team responsibility and opportunities to grow and develop their skills and capabilities to be the best they can be. We also believe if something is worth doing it’s worth doing to the very best of all our abilities."


“That focus on innovative thinking and quality delivery has paid dividends over almost 30 years as it has enabled us to develop relationships built on trust. Our customers value our approach, ethos and our capability to deliver sustainable solutions to complex industry challenges"


“We have established a long-term valued relationship with our key-client Sellafield Ltd and it seemed fitting that they handed over the award after so many years of working with them."


“Winning an award like this and celebrating together, along with our peers made up of so many innovative, high quality, high-performing businesses and organisations across the region, is both humbling and inspiring."


“From our learning and experience over the last three decades, we are always happy to share best practice with others on how to make decommissioning happen through technical capability and how we maintain a pipeline of fresh thinking coming into the industry."


“Any organisation which wants to find out more, or is interested in collaborating with us, our door is always open.”


React is also passionate about raising aspirations for young people by providing educational opportunities in science and engineering not usually accessible to school students, in addition to running a series of fun events and workshops promoting STEM subjects.


Last year, the company relaunched its React Futures scheme which provides financial and professional support for young people to kickstart their careers within the engineering sector.

Phil said: “We have always been passionate about giving back to our communities and making a positive difference to those who might not otherwise have access to further education or career opportunities, especially in science and engineering. It’s part of our DNA at React and we will continue to try to inspire the next generation.”

React enjoyed double success on the night as its team also took to the stage as part of a collaboration of Cumbrian SMEs who have established Resolve Engineered Solutions.


Resolve, which brings together the expertise of four companies: React Engineering, Forth, PAR Systems and COMS, to deliver end-to-end engineering services to mark a significant step forward in the nuclear industry's capabilities, scooped the Collaboration Award.


Earlier this year React, which is based at Cleator Moor, in Cumbria, opened a new office in Warrington to further embed its working relationships with the wider Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) Group in Risley, and create new partnerships with the NDA supply chain whilst providing a platform for further growth throughout the UK.


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