Words by Smiley Team
A disability activist who launched an app for disabled people to look at a building before they visit has issued a plea for help to keep the service running.
Marg McNiel has taken more than 500,000 images of buildings around the UK, with the aim of uploading them to his website and app See Around Britain, an interactive service which allows people to see a picture of a place or building before they arrive.
This helps people with mobility issues in particular to feel comfortable and safe when visiting a new place, and the platform also includes reviews and remarks about venues’ accessibility from previous users.
Marg is now trying to raise funds to improve the features on the website, as well as develop more than 4,300 35mm colour films taken by disabled volunteers, so they can be added to the archive.
Marg, who was born with a mobility impairment and has suffered from ME since 1992, said: “Seeing is believing and a photograph saves a thousand words, and gives citizens the confidence and reassurance about visiting a venue.
“The website and the app are so useful in these uncertain times, and will allow those with disabilities to venture out safely as shielding comes to an end for our most vulnerable people.
“It also means that everyone, whether medically vulnerable, disabled or simply looking to go out post-lockdown, can plan their outings in advance, and that will help to keep everyone safe in a COVID world.”
But Marg has struggled to get funding for the project, and to raise the £3,000 needed to improve the site. He is also urgently looking for volunteers to write full descriptions of places which feature on the app, and to survey their local venues.
Marg added: “We keep hoping for support, from businesses, the government, other charities, or the public, but it’s been hard. We also need to keep uploading at a rate of least 1000 new venues a month until we get all of the backlog of more than 500,000 photos of venues online.”
To find out more information or to offer help with the project visit See Around Britain website or connect with them on Twitter.
