Speaker - Moira Henderson - The Rings, Enabling Holidays for All

The Club’s first meeting of the New Year hosted the owner and proprietor of The Rings, a holiday destination designed purely to accommodate clients with a variety of disabilities.

With her husband David, Moira Henderson runs the business on their Ring Farm site at Chance Inn, near Craigrothie.

For some years the couple had run a successful egg-production facility on the farm – which had been prompted by David one day turning up at home from his then job bearing six bantams.

These, said Moira, became 20,000 hens after not such a long time!

However, trained as a nurse earlier in her life, Moira had become familiar with treating handicapped patients. It led her to the belief that there was a glaring need for accommodation at which sufferers of profound disabilities could enjoy a holiday. Her feelings were strengthened by the problems encountered by a cousin who had a life-limiting condition. He and his family found it virtually impossible to find somewhere they could holiday which provided help and support.

Moira related a complex and often harrowing process through which she received funding and planning consent to construct a bungalow-style building on the farm land.

This resulted in a cleverly designed building which could house 16 people but had built-in moveable partitions capable of forming a number of individual apartments.

They opened for business in April 2016.

Moira related a number of moving stories detailing how disabled and handicapped people of all ages had since found the bungalow something approaching a haven.

For example, the property is fitted with ceiling-fixed tracking hoists which allow ease of movement for her clients. Specialist beds are available for children or adults with autism, epilepsy, ADHD or learning difficulties.

So far, the project has offered succour to many from overseas.

The Hendersons now wish to expand their business and are working hard to find funding and consents to build glamping pods and a bunkhouse for even more people who are limited in their holiday choices.

Asked when the new project may be up and running Moira responded “ASAP”!