ACCESS for disabled residents is being improved in Poole as part of a new national campaign.

The Accessible Britain Challenge is asking communities to do more by working with disabled people to remove barriers that get in the way of them being full and active members of their community.

Borough of Poole already supports a number of initiatives to help disabled residents in everyday tasks such as making the town dementia-friendly and travelling on public transport.

The Challenge is aimed at all members of the community including business, employers, service providers, voluntary and community groups and disabled people.

Schemes already in place in Poole include the development of more than 100 ‘Safe Places’ across the town and Bournemouth, led by Poole Forum and Bournemouth People First.

Identified by a special sticker, these offer a safe haven for people with learning disabilities should they feel in danger, lost or unwell.

The borough’s Getting About Poole group works to ensure equality of access for all and, working with the council’s parking services, have reviewed Blue Badge spaces, which now have larger bays.

All bus services have 100 per cent low floor vehicles, and more than 450 bus stop kerbs have been raised in Poole to allow easy entrance onto buses.

The Community Outreach and Support Team helps disabled people find employment and travel between work and home, supporting more than 100 people every week.

Cllr Karen Rampton, cabinet portfolio holder for equalities, Borough of Poole, said: “We know that many disabled people face barriers in their everyday lives, but residents with disabilities make up a valued part of the Poole community and we are constantly working to find ways to provide better access and services.

“We’re happy to be taking part in the Accessible Britain Challenge, and will be working to expand on the initiatives already in place to ensure that everyone can take a full and active role in the community.”