North East's first accessible leisure complex on the horizon as funding nears £1.5m

A Sunderland company has announced that it has raised nearly £1.5m as it aims to purchase and open a new accessible leisure complex.

Tailored Leisure Company (TLC), has raised £1m through investments, as well as community fundraising of nearly £45k through donations and JustGiving.

The company is aiming to raise a further £500k as the final part of its campaign to create the first accessible leisure complex in the North East, to be called the Butterfly of the North.

The complex would include a swimming pool, chalets and social areas, all designed to challenge the barriers often faced by those with disabilities when on holiday.

Tara Johnson, director of Tailored Leisure Company, commented: “We have been blown away by the support from across the region for our Stand for Access campaign.

“We are so close to reaching the target of £1.5m now and have identified the premises in the North East which will be ideal for the innovative, one-of-a- kind short break holiday and leisure complex, the ‘Butterfly of the North’.

“We are now calling out to businesses to back the campaign and take advantage of our corporate sponsorship packages to help the Butterfly of the North complex take flight in 2021.

“The new complex will support so many and unlock barriers to short breaks and leisure services that families across the North East face on a daily basis, and which is needed even more than ever post Covid-19.”

Kim Hunter, business and community development officer at Headway Wearside said: “It is essential for acquired brain injury survivors to connect and have time out with family, friends and carers in an accessible leisure and holiday complex.

“Just like everyone else holidays and weekends away are fun, exciting and challenging but sometimes a little more support and thought is needed.

“To have a complex in the local area such as ‘Butterfly of the North’ that members of Headway Wearside could access will be fantastic. Having access to everything on site such as accessible chalets, swimming pool, and social areas and a separate space for carers is long overdue.”

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