A project to transform a youth hostel in Cornwall into a more accessible facility for young people with special educational needs and disabilities is underway.

The hope is to evolve the Coverack Youth Hostel into West Cornwall Accessible Hub which will create a welcoming space for people of all abilities to connect, learn and thrive.

Spearheaded by Vicki Carpenter, Lucy Green and Helen Martin, the hub would offer employment opportunities for individuals with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Accessible accommodation wold remain a core service, but with a wider reach, welcoming diverse guests while ensuring everyone feels comfortable and supported.

Falmouth Packet: Plans are in place to transform the rooms inside the hostel to be more accessible for people to use Plans are in place to transform the rooms inside the hostel to be more accessible for people to use (Image: Supplied)Plans also include a fully equipped gym with wheelchair-accessible equipment, an education room for workshops, training sessions, and community events, improved access to hostel rooms with upgraded toilet facilities, and even a natural pool, swimming, and hydrotherapy pool.

Accessible camping pods and dedicated office space would further add to the hub’s diverse offerings.

Fundamentally, the hostel would still offer affordable holiday accommodation, but for a bigger audience.

Services provided would include breakfast and after-school clubs to complement the school next door, and assistance for people navigating benefit systems, disability payments and other means of support.

Falmouth Packet: Vicki Carpenter (L) and Lucy Green (R) Vicki Carpenter (L) and Lucy Green (R) (Image: Supplied)Vicki Carpenter, founding director of Access Cornwall CIC, told the Packet how the idea of the hub began. She said: “The original idea started when Lucy (Green) and I were looking to create an accessibility hub in West Cornwall for the CICs that all three of us work for.

“We all live on the Lizard and are all passionate about accessibility and have worked to help people in Cornwall who live with learning disabilities to be able to enjoy what Cornwall has to offer through Access Cornwall and our organisations.”

Lucy Green is the founding director of Beyond the Wave CIC, a community interest company which delivers Forest School, open water swimming and water safety training. She is passionate about helping people with accessibility needs to swim.

Falmouth Packet: Helen Martin with her family Helen Martin with her family (Image: Helen Martin)Helen Martin, mother of Holly Martin who suffered a life-changing brain injury after a horse-riding accident in 2021, has been campaigning alongside her daughter in improving accessibility for everyone and bloggers/reviewers for Access Cornwall CIC.

However, to enable the project to go ahead, Helen, Lucy and Vicki are now seeking shareholders and angel investors. They said: “It will be a huge, exciting, and dynamic project that will be an asset to the area and everyone that uses it.

“If you would like to know more, please get in touch. We will need help and support in getting this off the ground.”

A survey on the idea can be completed here via a Microsoft Office form. 

Contact can be made via the Access Cornwall Facebook page.