Q Well Being

Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson, Britain’s most successful Paralympian, has been recommended by the House of Lords Appointments Commission for a peerage.
In her new role, Tanni will sit on the crossbenches in the House of Lords and will bring her wealth of experience and authority to bear to contribute effectively to the work of the House.
As one of the most renowned athletes in the world, Tanni will have a significant impact on House discussions adding new knowledge and experiences to the debate.
She competed in five Paralympic Games, winning 11 Gold Medals, and is acknowledged as one of the most gifted and courageous sportswomen of her generation.
Now retired, Tanni still plays an active role in the administration of sport. Amongst other positions she is a consultant to the London 2012 Organising Committee, a Laureus Sport for Good Foundation Ambassador, non-executive director of UK Athletics, on the board of Transport for London and is an International Inspiration Ambassador for Unicef. In 2005, she was made ‘Dame’ Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE for her services to sport.
Tanni is one of four new non-party-political peers recommended by the House of Lords Appointments Commission alongside Sir Michael Bichard, Chair of the Design Council and Director of the Institute for Government; Tony Hall, Chief Executive of the Royal Opera House and Chair of the Cultural Olympiad; and Professor Ajay Kakkar, Surgeon and Media Researcher with a special interest in thrombosis.
She becomes only the 55th non-party-political peerage recommended to the Prime Minister by the House of Lords Appointments Commission, drawn from well over 4,000 nominations.
Speaking in The Saturday Telegraph Tanni said “I am nervous but that deep desire to help make positive change still burns bright as ever”.
Carl Davies, CEO said “Q Well Being is really proud to be associated with Tanni and what she is trying to achieve for sport and disability”.

Dame Tanni talks with an interested party

Q Well Being attended our last major show of the year in the Metro Arena in Newcastle. The show was very well attended over the two days with great interest again shown to this unique project.

We were entered into the innovative deign of the year award but were narrowly pipped at the post by a most notable winner.

Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson was at the event all day on the Thursday with her husband Ian and their daughter Carys, who must have tried out every scooter on display!

Simon Roberts, Raj Kumar, Carl Davies, Mark Pain

Carl Davies, CEO, is a keen Taverner and is a committee member for the Middlesex region. “The Taverners are all about giving children, especially those with special needs, a sporting chance. With Dame Tanni’s involvement in the Taverners’ Sponsor a wheelchair scheme, Q Well being’s association with this charity seems like a perfect fit.”

Carl’s team embarrassingly won the day in a very close run competition. With the scores tied they won on the ‘countback’ ruling.

Q Well Being attended the South West Disability show at the Westpoint Centre in Exeter.

The Q Well Being stand

Despite the summer weather (rain and wind!) the crowds turned out for the event and interest in Europe’s first fully accessible luxury apartment complex was strong.

A good time was had by all

Q Well Being joined the 25,000 visitors at the Warrington Disability Awarenes Day on 12th July. With apparently 800,000 hits on the website after the event the show certainly generates a lot of interest.

Q Well Being, the luxury accesible complex in Cyprus was the star of the show because they had never had an exhibitor from Cyprus before. We even got a special mention in the programme and were interviewed on several community TV programmes.

Q WellBeing stand at Beyond Boundaries Live

Q Wellbeing attended our second show on 5th and 6th July at Farnborough Airport.

As ever the development generated a great deal of enthusiasm and interest and with our stand being close to the two Michellin star chef, Michael Caines the aromas were mouthwatering!

Now that prices and plans are published (see the info pack) we will now be following up on those who have regsitered at both of shows we have done so far.

Q Wellbeing was fomally launched on 4th June at the Mobility Roadshow at Kemble airfield. Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson joined the rest of the team on the stand at the show which attracted 12,000 visitors. Dame Tanni was interviewed by the press and radio as Q Wellbeing generated considerable interest.

Dame Tanni on the Q Wellbeing stand

We are pleased to report that we registered a lot of people intrigued by the unique proposition.

We will be releasing floor plans and prices of the first phase at our next show Beyond Boundaries on 4th & 5th July in Farnborough. Those people that have already registered will be contacted in the order in which they have registered on the prioritised waiting list. They will also receive a 1% discount off the published purchase price.

The Q Well Being project team of David Bonnett Associates, Adam Thomas and Carl Davies met on 5th May 2009 to agree the final design details of Q Well Being. After nearly a year’s discussion, research and redesign we are nearing the finishing line.

To date the site plan has been agreed and filed with the planning authorities, and has been approved. We have spend a lot of time ensuring that every part of the site is accessible from the entrance to parking to communal areas and the restaurant , spa and gym. Where possible every part of the site has been designed either to Part M or Sport England accessibility standards.

Adam, Tanni and George are finalising the layouts of the apartments (with special attention to the kitchens and bathrooms), the gym and spa and we hope to have an Access Statement from David Bonnett Associates on 29th May 2009, ready for our launch at the Mobility Show on 4th – 6th June 2009.

At a TV and Press conference in Larnaca on 16th April Savvas Kakos, CEO and President of Quality Group launched Cyprus’ first (and Europe’s second) accessible beach.

Supported by the Mayor of Larnaca and Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE, plans were unveiled to the waiting journalists and TV reporters. The beach, to be known as Q Well Being accessible beach will be developed on Larnaca’s main promenade at Finikoudes, in front of it’s bar and restaurants.

The Mayor told the audience how he wants to make Larnaca Cyprus’ foremost accessible city and told local businesses that they need to understand that not only is this socially the right thing to do, but also that it is economically correct as well. The disabled market is potentially lucrative if Larnaca can provide an excellent accessible experience.

Dame Tanni stressed that accessibility is important for everyone. Disability could happen to anyone at anytime, it does not discriminate. Additionally she stressed that by making Larnaca accessible it extends the potential lifespan of the city to travellers as old age also makes it more difficult for many people to climb steps etc.

Savvas said that whilst Quality Group was taking the lead in this, he hoped other developers would follow suit and also build accessible developments and neighbourhoods.

The Q Well Being accessible beach will enable the whole family to get down to the water’s edge and enter the clear blue sea of the Mediterranean Sea. A wide concrete slope will be built with a very shallow gradient out into the sea. Two large accessible changing rooms with toilets will be built on the beach, and specially adapted wheelchairs which are at home on sand and in the sea will be provided.