Quirky Campers launches UK’s first accessible family campervan to its hire fleet
British campervan hire service Quirky Campers has welcomed an accessible campervan to its hire fleet, which is designed for families who have a disabled child.
Accessible Iris is believed to be the first of its kind for hire in the UK. The five-berth campervan (four adults and one child) has been designed with meticulous attention to detail, always with the needs and comfort of the family and child in mind.
According to the National Caravan Council, there are currently 1.1 million disabled children in the UK. However, out of the 225,000 motorhomes currently in use in the UK there have been no other accessible vehicles available for families to hire until now.
Given the importance of holidays and spending time outdoors to the physical and mental well-being of disabled children and their families, as advocated by disability charities such as Scope and the Disabled Children’s Partnership, the owners of Accessible Iris, Jemima Alexander and Cody Selby, saw that there was a clear gap to be filled.
Jemima and Cody are parents of two girls, the eldest of which is medically complex, has sensory impairments and is a wheelchair user. Using their understanding of the accessibility issues families face when trying to take a holiday, they have designed a cosy, well-equipped and thoughtful space that aims to take as much stress out of holidays and stays away from home as possible.
A luxurious yet simple campervan, the heating and light can be easily controlled, with plentiful storage and the flexibility for beds to be height adjustable or even removed depending on the need.
They also wanted to make off-grid experiences a reality for all, so Iris has an electrical system that allows even people who use overnight oxygen and ventilation the ability to sleep off-grid under the stars.
Jemima Alexander, Iris’s co-owner, commented: “We know that it is often the details that can make or break a holiday with a disabled child.
“We wanted families to be able to adjust light and temperature to suit their child, we wanted there to be a dark, safe space for children that may feel dysregulated, we wanted there to be low lights for parents changing their children’s pads or adjusting their equipment in the night.
“The Iris you see today has been designed, redesigned, and tweaked numerous times. Every decision has been thoroughly discussed, sometimes agonised over as we tried to include the needs of all the different families we hoped would be able to use Iris.
“The end result is a space that we believe is beautiful and practical and where the accessibility features blend seamlessly into the build. We hope that she will open up the world for many families like ours whether that’s being able to attend a wedding, go to a festival or go on a camping holiday.”
Other features of Iris include wheelchair fixings and ramps, plentiful battery capacity, multiple plug sockets, a spacious interior, a large fridge, nets to ensure that children don’t fall out of bed and a sensory space at the back of the van as well as a quiet fans, hot water, soundproofing and capacity for an outdoor hot water shower.
David Ffrench, CEO, and co-founder of Quirky Campers, commented: “We are so proud to welcome Iris to the Quirky Campers family.
“Cody and Jemima have done a wonderful job with this van, which combines accessibility and comfort with high-quality finishes. We understand that holidays, having fun and simply getting outdoors are vital for the positive mental and physical health of children and young people with disabilities.
“Cody and Jemima have made that much easier for families. We’re looking forward to hearing about the special holiday experiences and memories that those families and their children create together with Iris.”
Having an accessible campervan available for hire is a natural and important next step for Quirky Campers, which launched Diversify Vanlife UK in 2021, in partnership with Diversify Vanlife, based in the US.
Initially established as a digital platform on Instagram, it has evolved into a diverse and inclusive community for POC, GRT, plus-sized, disabled, LGBTQ+ and other underrepresented individuals in the vanlife community to be heard and celebrated.
Iris is located in Bristol, an ideal base for exploring the city and surrounding regions. It is a short drive from Wales and the Bannau Brycheiniog/Brecon Beacons, Gower, and Pembrokeshire. Nearer by, are the Wye Valley, the Forrest of Dean, the Cotswolds and the Mendips. Holidaymakers could also head south into Devon and Cornwall.
Quirky Campers was launched by husband and wife team, Lindsay and David Ffrench in 2010, starting with renting out their own campervan, Bella, while they were travelling in Kenya.
The family owned business acts as an agent for a collection of friendly and likeminded campervan owners, each with a vehicle that they have lovingly created and want to share with the world.
The business also supports people to convert their own vans with an extensive network of Quirky Approved converters who can help; and has a dedicated campervan sales page on the website as well.
Quirky Campers can be picked up from various locations across the UK. Prices include fully comprehensive insurance and booking fees and many are pet-friendly.
