Walk In Shade With Covered Walkways

Walkways between buildings are always a challenge to traditional builders. Covering them using traditional materials would cost quite a lot, while leaving them uncovered will expose them and the people that use them, to the elements. The ideal solution to this problem is a covered walkway.

Find out more about covered walkways at http://www.inside2outside.co.uk/i2o/walkways.asp

Outdoor Covered Areas for the UK Care Sector; Market Test Report

Opportunities to enjoy a change of scenery for many people living in Care, Nursing and Rest Homes, can be few and far between. Activities Co-ordinators are faced with the often difficult task of catering for older people with wide-ranging needs and differing levels of dependency. The charity NAPA (National Association for Providers of Activities for Older People) works with and supports Activities Co-ordinators to promote best practice and ensure that everyone is given the opportunity to enjoy a varied and stimulating lifestyle.

As part of our recent expansion into the Care sector, we at Inside2Outside has been working towards introducing the same benefits enjoyed by schools – namely outdoor covered areas for care homes giving complete rain and UV protection. In addition, we are working with NAPA to promote the use of canopies in activity provision, making outdoor areas more accessible to residents.

One of the first Care homes to invest in a Qube outdoor weather shelter was Arbrook House in Esher, Surrey, and members of our team joined local Mayor James Vickers, along with staff, residents and friends of Arbrook for the official unveiling of their new outdoor area on 28th September.

Jo Trout, Activities Co-ordinator for Arbrook House, commented;

“We have always had a problem sitting by our lake as there is no shade or shelter. Now we won't have to worry about sunburn or finding shelter from summer showers.

We have a project called Wildlife Watch which the residents really enjoy. We try to identify and log all the wildlife we see in the grounds. We will now be able to do that from under the canopy which is away from the house and we might see some different things

We are also buying a table to go under the canopy so we can have afternoon tea down by the lake.”

Back in August, we offered Care facilities a trial scheme whereby they would install a suitable structure in a location of their choice for free in order for their staff and residents to take activities outside and see if they felt that the covered outdoor space made the role of the Activity Co-ordinators any easier in catering for everyone. If after 6 months they felt the canopy had made a difference, they were given the chance to buy it at a reduced cost.

Among others, Cedar Lawn Care Home in Straford-Upon-Avon was selected to take part in the trial and opted for a timber framed weather shelter, which was installed in October. Social Care Facilitator Sonia Hunt feels that the trial has been a complete success. She says, “The offer of six months was too good to miss – the information Inside2Outside gave was clear and the pictures helped, especially because they showed different locations and uses. Since it’s been installed, the canopy has offered the opportunity to try out another outdoor space and to consider how we could use this facility.”

Care2Cover canopies are now being installed across the country, and some facilities have even bypassed the trial scheme to go ahead and invest in outdoor covered areas because they’re so sure of the benefits they will continue to experience on a permanent basis. We continues to receive excellent feedback from the Care sector and are delighted by the chance to help their customers improve their activity provision and maximise the potential of their outdoor space.

Christopher Reeves Lower School installs two new canopies to provide covered walkways

Christopher Reeves is a rural village school, situated a short walking distance from the Church in Podington, Northamptonshire. The school was founded in 1842 and but was built on the current site in 1966 and extended in 2004.

Through DLP Design in Bedford, Inside2Outside received the first enquiry for a 6metre x 6metre canopy with a white domed roof, which was to be used as an outdoor sheltered play area at the school. This was ordered and installed over the 2008 summer holidays, so that the school could use it in when they got back in September for the new school year.

The benefits of Pocca canopies for schools became self evident and Inside2Outside were contacted again and asked to provide canopies that would run round the full length of the back of the school. One constraint was that the structure needed to keep the same roof and height as the original canopy and as a consequence of the constant use of the walkway some of the supports for the structure needed to be moved to allow for drainage and access restrictions.

The covered walkways manufactured and installed by Inside2Outside, are structures with aluminium frames and fabric covers and provide hard wearing, practical, flexible and attractive options for covered passages for exposed spaces. They are tough, require little maintenance and have self-cleaning built into the surface of the covers. providing shade when needed but allowing ample light through in winter.

Headteacher, Sue McNally said: “I was very impressed by the service and quality of product that Inside2Outside provided and the school has already benefitted enormously from the improvements made.”

If you would like more information about our canopies please contact Inside2Outside Ltd.
Tel: 01480 498297 Email: info@pocca.co.uk
Web: www.inside2outside.co.uk

Pictured 1-2: The covered walkways at Christopher Reeves