Toucan-Diversity

05/09/2026

SHE'S OFF!

At 9:51am this morning, entered the water at Sandy Bay — and the Bristol Channel Swim has officially begun!

A slight rolling swell but a cracking morning — and what a day to do it! Today marks the 99th anniversary of the very first Bristol Channel Swim by Kathleen Thomas in 1927. What incredible history Adele is swimming into!

Please support her amazing efforts if you can
https://givestar.io/gs/bristol-channel-swim

Paul Smith Rebecca Butler Ronnie Wang Rob Trent Portsmouth's Express FM Jan Brookes David Shervill Tim Mason Lucy Elena Paul Marsh

04/09/2026

THIS WEEKEND -The Channel Swim!

The moment we have all been waiting for is almost here, and we could not be more excited!

Weather permitting, the incredible Adele Benson () will take on one of the most dangerous open water swims in the world, the Channel, this Saturday!
Before she dives in, make sure you:

Listen to Adele's brilliant interview with Paul Marsh on Portsmouth's Portsmouth's Express FM - she talks about what drives her, what this swim means, and why she is doing it all for Toucan-Diversity

👉 https://www.expressfm.com/podcasts/local-interviews/episode/swimming-adele-aka-adele-benson-who-is-going-to-be-swimming-the-bristol-channel-to-raise-money-for-toucan-diversity-and-anne-marie-asgari-from-the-charity/

💛 Support Adele and Toucan Diversity every single donation helps us continue our vital work championing disability inclusion

👉 https://givestar.io/gs/bristol-channel-swim

This swim is extraordinary. Adele is extraordinary. And your support makes it all possible.

Let's cheer her on this weekend, we are SO proud of you, Adele! 🌊🙌

Ronnie Wang Fiona Et Al Tim Mason Paul Smith OBE Adele Rosa Benson David Shervill Rob Trent



Video Description:
There are five branded slides with pictures inserted of Adele smiling into the camera and swimming at the Hilsea Lido. Others are pictures of Toucan's team members. The last picture is of Adele, Anne-Marie and Paul Marsh interview at EXpress FM.

03/09/2026

03/09/2026

💙 WE’RE LOOKING FOR NEW TRUSTEES – LEVEL UP GOSPORT 💙

Could your skills help us change lives?

Level Up Gosport is looking for new Trustees to join our Board and help us build the next chapter of our charity.

We work alongside young people, helping them develop confidence, skills and opportunities to move towards employment and a more independent future.

Our work has been recognised with the King’s Award for Voluntary Service — and now we’re looking for people who can bring their experience, ideas and enthusiasm to help us grow. 👑

🌟 We’re particularly looking for people with experience in:

📱 SOCIAL MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS
Can you help us tell the Level Up Gosport story?
We’d love someone who understands social media, content, engagement and how to reach the right audiences.

💻 WEBSITE & DIGITAL
Could you help us make our website work harder for us?
We’re looking for someone who understands websites, digital content, accessibility or online communications.

👥 HUMAN RESOURCES & PEOPLE
Do you have HR experience?
Your knowledge of recruitment, employment practices, policies, safeguarding, staff support and people management could be invaluable as we continue to develop.

💙 WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR

You don’t need previous trustee experience.

We’re looking for people who:
✔️ Believe in what we do
✔️ Are willing to contribute their time, skills and ideas
✔️ Can think strategically and constructively
✔️ Are passionate about creating opportunities for young people
✔️ Want to help Level Up Gosport continue to grow and make an impact

Being a Trustee isn’t simply about attending meetings.

It’s about helping shape our future.

You’ll have the opportunity to bring your professional experience into a community organisation where those skills can have a very real and meaningful impact.

🚀 COULD YOU HELP US LEVEL UP?

If you have skills in Social Media, Website & Digital, HR — or another area that you think could benefit Level Up Gosport — we’d love to hear from you.

📩 Get in touch to have an informal conversation and find out more about becoming a Trustee.

Your professional skills could help create someone else’s opportunity 💙

31/08/2026

Bristol Channel Swim Week & It Begins!

Last Friday marked the official launch of one of the most exciting and meaningful challenges Toucan Diversity CIC has ever been part of Swimming Adele's Channel Swim.

We are incredibly grateful to Hilsea Lido for generously allocating a lane for the launch event, and to That's TV, POOW Media, and Paul Marsh of Portsmouth's Express FM for their brilliant coverage. The interviews have since been broadcast on That's Solent, That's Wiltshire, and That's Swansea Bay — reaching thousands of viewers and listeners across the region.

Adele's connection to Toucan Diversity began as a student volunteer at the University of Portsmouth. She went on to become one of our youngest ever Directors and a fierce and compassionate disability ally and a beloved friend of our late founder, Madissa Asgari. This swim is as much a tribute to Madissa's legacy as it is a fundraiser for our vital work.

The Bristol Channel is one of the most challenging open water swims in the world. Adele is taking it on with characteristic courage and determination.

Please support her if you can. Every donation makes a real difference to the disabled community we serve. 💛🦜

👉 https://givestar.io/gs/bristol-channel-swim
Paul Smith Rebecca Butler Ronnie Wang David Shervill Jan Brookes Tim Mason Andy Sampson That's TV Solent Rob Trent Lucy Elena Gethin Jones Den Barry Jane Barry

30/08/2026

Toucan's Sunday Read

What an extraordinary week it has been for Team Toucan!

📅 On Friday, we were thrilled to be part of the launch of 's Channel Swim at Hilsea Lido Pool for the People what an incredible and emotional morning. Watch this space for plenty of updates on the swim throughout this coming week!

But this Sunday, we want to shine a spotlight on the brilliant The Power House - Poole

This week we had the absolute pleasure of delivering our online Disability Equality Training to this incredible organisation, and what made this session truly special was the room itself. Trustees, staff, volunteers, and disabled hub users all came together, sharing their lived experiences, exploring what reasonable adjustments work for them, and being refreshingly honest about the fact that what helps one person may not help another. Because that is the truth about disability, no two experiences are the same. And that conversation has never been more important then now!
The feedback?

✅ 100% increased their knowledge
✅ 100% would recommend our training to others.

And now they are all busy putting their new knowledge into action, making the Power House an even more welcoming and inclusive space for everyone who walks through the door. A massive thank you to our trainer Debbie White and 👉Gregory White for his IT support.

This is why we do what we do.

If you want to find out more about the work we do, please check us out and book some time with our team.

https://toucan-diversity.org.uk/

Adele Rosa Benson Tim Mason Rob Trent 👉Gregory White Ronnie Wang Rebecca Butler Fiona Et Al Michael Armstrong Paul Smith Rob Trent Dr Shah Siddiqui



Image description: A Zoom Screenshot from our disability equality training delivery last week. It shows 12 people smiling into the camera.

28/08/2026

What an amazing Press Day yesterday!

A huge thank you to everyone who joined and supported us yesterday as we shared more about Adele Rosa Benson's upcoming Channel swim, which is raising vital funds to support Toucan-Diversity and our work to champion disability inclusion.

A special thank you to Hillsea Lido for providing the swimming lane for our press day and helping make the day possible.

Catch the interview tonight on That's TV Solent
--Freeview Channel 7 at 6–7pm
--Or catch the repeat on Sunday.

You can also follow of our (PEOPLE OF OUR WORLD) Media for more from the day.

Now it’s time to get behind Adele and her incredible Channel challenge!
Support Adele’s swim and Toucan Diversity:
https://givestar.io/gs/bristol-channel-swim

If you can’t donate, please share this post and help us spread the word. Every donation, share and message of support makes a difference.
Find out more about Toucan Diversity's work: https://toucan-diversity.org.uk/

22/08/2026

What a super day!

In
We had some great conversations and crafts at today's monthly social. Thank you massively for coming along and a special thank you to Fiona Et Al for all the preparation they did.

In
We had selling her cakes to raise further funds for the Bristol Channel Swim.

Well done Toucan-Diversity

21/08/2026

The ever so lovely Mary Eileen of Level Up Gosport. They do some amazing work for young disabled and neurodivergent people. Follow them if of interest.