In April and May 2025 EPIKS and Experience Community ran a four week wheelchair skills course for wheelchair users. Led by disabled instructors with real-world experience, the course aimed to help participants build confidence and independence.
Instructor Will from Experience Community and Gina Wharton, EPIKS Holme Valley Active Travel Engagement Officer, facilitated four sessions at Holmfirth Civic Hall covering pushing techniques for efficiency & comfort, manoeuvring in tight spaces & through doors and tackling slopes, steps & uneven terrain.
Experience Community instructor demonstrates wheelchair skills on four week wheelchair skills course with EPIKS Walk Wheel Ride.
Taking it up a level
A follow up event at Sands Playground in Thongsbridge offered people the chance to take their new skills up a level and try out off road wheelchair equipment like Mountain Trikes, Tri-rides & Klaxon power add-ons, all with expert support from Experience Community.
Trying out off road wheelchair equipment at Sands Playground in Thongsbridge
The sessions, which were supported by West Yorkshire Combined Authority, saw participants come together from Holmfirth, Hade Edge, Denby Dale and Halifax.
Becoming more independent
Nathan Auckland navigating a doorway on EPIKS/ Experience Community four week wheelchair skills course
Among the participants was Nathan Auckland, from Hade Edge. Nathan said, “I loved the course! It was great to meet other wheelchair users who face similar issues to me and I liked the way every week the trainers set us different challenges and gave us loads of encouragement to keep trying with tasks we found tricky. Talking with the experts from Experience Community was so useful. They helped me realise that a more suitable wheelchair would be a big help with my mobility and I know what I am looking for now.
I’ve also made some new friends among the other attendees and look forward to doing more events with them in the future.”
Course participant Heather Leacock developing her wheelchair skills on a ramp.
Heather Leacock, 21, from Holmfirth said, “I’ve done a few wheelchair skills sessions before and wanted to do more so I could become more active, make friends, try out new activities and also try some volunteering. The 4-week course was a great way for me to build on skills I have already. I want to do things more independently as an individual so I don’t have to rely on a carer or a family member to be with me all the time. I’ve really enjoyed the course too- I’m up for more!”
Gina Wharton, EPIKS Holme Valley Active Travel Engagement Officer, said
“The wheelchair skills course is a very specialist offer so we were thrilled that the course filled up quickly. It’s very common for people who use wheelchairs to feel isolated in their community, especially rural communities where it can be harder to get around. After spending four sessions developing their skills under the expert guidance of wheelchair users from Experience Community, we all enjoyed the opportunity to explore the range of equipment Experience have to help people access more off-road spaces.
Our participants are all keen to do more. Some of them are going on to some more advanced skills sessions with Experience Community. We’re planning an outdoor ramble together later in the summer and some of the gang are joining our monthly Wellness Walks in the Holme Valley.“
Anyone can join the Wellness Walks – get in touch on or see booking details on our Eventbrite here .
Experience Community
Rik Legge, General Manager at Experience Community said:
“A key aim for Experience Community is to help disabled people become more active and get outdoors. Over the past few years, we have seen the essential part our wheelchair skills courses can play in building confidence and independence for disabled people. Working alongside organisations such as EPIKS allows us to run more courses and reach more individuals and means that more people can access the skills and equipment to allow them to enjoy green spaces.”
To find out more about wheelchair skills courses, off-road wheelchair rambles, adaptive cycling and trying out other mobility equipment, please visit www.experiencecommunity.co.uk
What’s next?
EPIKS would love to run more courses and activities for wheelchair users- if people would like to know more or make suggestions they can email Gina on
We’re also working on plans to improve wheelchair access in Huddersfield Riverside Nature Park. If you’d like to help with that work- with financial support, donating materials, or by volunteering get in touch on
EPIKS Walk Wheel Ride team member Gina by steps on Snow Island in Huddersfield Riverside Nature Park