Welcome from the President

Welcome to the Calvert Trust. I hope that you will enjoy seeing what this remarkable charity achieves. Many people take for granted a day’s sailing, climbing or riding in the countryside. But, before the birth of the Calvert Trust over thirty years ago, the best that was available to most disabled people was to view outstanding countryside from the tarmac. During this period, we have been the [world] leader in the provision of outdoor activities for people with every nature of disability. They come to our residential centres from all over the United Kingdom and from overseas.

Many of our disabled visitors have never even had a holiday before. To do this and to take part in activities, which enable them to achieve their potential, is an invaluable experience, often a truly life-changing one.

You will see that the Trust offers a unique combination, instructors with special skills, physical access to a wide range of activities and suitable accommodation. And so we are in most ways specialists. But at the same time, involving as we do, families and friends, we follow a policy of complete integration.

I have been involved with the Trust since its birth. During that time, we have constantly needed to adapt so as to attain the moving goal of equal opportunities. That we have been able to do this is due to the skill and inventiveness of our staff and the courage and determination of our visitors.  And, of course, all this has been made possible by the great generosity of so many donors.

Unfortunately, at our three existing Centres, we can only provide for a small fraction of the disabled people who might wish to visit them. So we need to provide for more visitors. And at the same time we are constantly improving our activity facilities. So we always need help to move forward.

When a disabled visitor arrives at one of our Centres, many people might think: ‘he/she will not be able to do much here.’ But the Calvert Trust is founded upon the cardinal principle: ‘it is not what you cannot do, but what you can do, that counts here.’

I hope that you enjoy your contact, whatever it may be, with the Calvert Trust.  Do keep in touch with us.

 
John Fryer Spedding
President