Mark Bates Ltd

12/07/2026

🎉 It's Disability Awareness Day! 🎉

If you're visiting Walton Hall & Gardens today, make sure to come and say hello to the Mark Bates Ltd team! 👋

You'll find us at Stand MA10, near the main area. We'd love to meet you, answer any questions about our specialist insurance, and have a chat.

Whether you're attending with family, friends, or just exploring everything the event has to offer, we'd love to see you.

See you there! 💙

For more information about the event, visit: https://disabilityawarenessday.org.uk

11/07/2026

🎉 We're at Disability Awareness Day tomorrow!

If you're heading to Disability Awareness Day tomorrow at Walton Hall & Gardens, make sure you come and say hello to the Mark Bates Ltd team!

📍 You'll find us at Stand MA10, near the main exhibition area.

Whether you're already insured with us, have questions about our specialist insurance for Personal Assistants, carers, support workers or home employers, or simply want to chat, we'd love to meet you.

Disability Awareness Day is always a fantastic event, bringing together over 100 exhibitors, charities and organisations, with plenty to see and do throughout the day.

🕙 10:00am – 4:30pm
📍 Walton Hall & Gardens, Warrington
📍 Stand MA10

Find out more about the event here: https://disabilityawarenessday.org.uk/

If you're coming along, let us know in the comments, and don't forget to pop by and say hello! 👋

Disability Awareness Day ("DAD") is the world's largest 'not for profit' voluntary-led disability exhibition, held annually in a huge tented village within the grounds of Walton Hall Gardens in Warrington.

10/07/2026

We can't wait! 🎉 We're really looking forward to meeting everyone on Sunday and being part of another fantastic Disability Awareness Day!

If you're attending, make sure to stop by the Mark Bates Ltd stand at MA10, and say hello! We'd love to chat and answer any questions you may have. See you there! 👋

2 days to go! 🎉

The countdown is almost over! In just two days, Walton Hall & Gardens will be buzzing with over 100 exhibitors, live entertainment, interactive activities and thousands of visitors for the 35th annual Disability Awareness Day.

If you haven't planned your day yet, there's still time to take a look at everything on offer using the link below. See you on Sunday! 👇
https://disabilityawarenessday.org.uk

10/07/2026

When we added Income Protection to our Personal Assistant and Carer insurance, we hoped it would give self-employed carers and PAs even greater peace of mind.

Since launching the new benefit, we've received some fantastic feedback from our customers. One question that has come up a few times is:

"I thought I already had income protection with my insurance?"

It's a great question.

Our policy has always included cover if you're unable to work following an accident at work. The new Income Protection benefit is different. It provides financial support if you're unable to work because of sickness or an injury that happens outside of work, subject to the policy terms and limits.

For many self-employed carers and Personal Assistants, that means broader protection for life's unexpected moments, not just those that happen while they're working.

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to share their feedback. It's great to hear that this new benefit is already making a positive difference.

02/07/2026

Today is Special Recreation for the Disabled Day, celebrating the importance of making sport, leisure and recreation accessible to everyone.

Being able to get out, stay active and enjoy the activities you love plays a huge role in living independently, building confidence and improving wellbeing.

One great example of this is table tennis – a sport that is incredibly accessible, bringing together people of all ages and abilities. That's one of the reasons we're proud to sponsor the Table Tennis England National Championships, supporting opportunities for more people to get involved and compete.

This year, we had the privilege of speaking to Thomas Hepburn, who, at just 21 years old, became the Para Class 1-5 National Champion after defeating Nathan Drayner 3-1 in the final at the 2026 Mark Bates Ltd Table Tennis England National Championships. Hearing Thomas share his journey was a powerful reminder of what inclusive sport can achieve.

At Mark Bates Ltd, we're proud to support independent living every day through specialist insurance for mobility equipment, helping give people the confidence to get out, stay active and continue doing the things they love.

Take a look at our interview with Thomas below and help us celebrate the power of accessible recreation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VR-SRL0NHI

Thomas Hepburn, a 21-year-old wheelchair athlete from Weymouth, won...

28/06/2026

Wait... there's a National Insurance Awareness Day?! 😅

Yep, apparently there is... although it's actually celebrated in the United States.

It got us thinking. Insurance is one of those things you don't think about every day, until life throws you an unexpected surprise.

Whether it's your mobility scooter, car, travel plans or something else that's important to you, having the right insurance can make those surprises a little less stressful.

So, while National Insurance Day may have started across the pond, we're happy to celebrate the peace of mind that good insurance brings.

Happy National Insurance Awareness Day from everyone at Mark Bates Ltd! 💙

24/06/2026

🥵 The current heatwave is making conditions uncomfortable for everyone, and mobility scooter users can feel the effects too.

If you're planning to head out, please take extra care:

- Stay hydrated and take regular breaks in the shade where possible.
- Wear light clothing and protect yourself from the sun.
- High temperatures can affect battery performance, so if your scooter starts behaving differently or you notice the battery draining more quickly than usual, it may be best to head home and let it cool down.
- Seats, controls and armrests can become very hot when left in direct sunlight, so check them before setting off.
- Consider delaying non-essential journeys until the cooler parts of the day, particularly if you're finding the heat difficult to cope with.

Remember, if you have breakdown cover through Mark Bates Ltd, our 24-hour breakdown recovery service is there to help should you need assistance while you're out and about.

Take care, keep cool, and enjoy the sunshine safely. ☀️

Learn more about our mobility scooter cover: https://www.markbatesltd.com/mobility-scooter-insurance

Got any hot weather scooter tips? Share them below! 🤩

17/06/2026

💚 Loneliness Awareness Week 2026 💚

Loneliness can affect anyone, but for many carers it can be a daily reality.

Whether you're caring for a family member, friend, or supporting others as part of your profession, caring can sometimes be all-consuming. Long hours, changing routines and the responsibility of supporting someone else can make it difficult to stay connected to friends, family and the things you enjoy.

At Mark Bates Ltd, we recognise the important role carers play and are proud to support the care community in a variety of ways. Through our work with organisations such as Carers UK and the Professional Carers Network, we help raise awareness of the issues affecting carers while promoting opportunities for connection, learning and support.

We also share the stories and experiences of carers, disabled people and care professionals through our articles, videos and campaigns, helping to ensure that voices from across the community are heard. By attending events, supporting sector initiatives and working closely with partners across health and social care, we aim to bring people together and strengthen the networks that help combat loneliness and isolation.

This Loneliness Awareness Week, we want to recognise the dedication, compassion and resilience shown by carers every day. If you're caring for someone and feeling isolated, please remember that support is available and that you're part of a community that understands the challenges you face.

💚 To every carer, thank you for everything you do.

17/06/2026

We're delighted to be part of the UK Nanny Conference Oxford 2026 and looking forward to joining such an experienced and knowledgeable panel.

At Mark Bates Ltd, we're passionate about supporting nannies, maternity nurses and childcare professionals with specialist insurance and practical guidance, helping them focus on what they do best.

We can't wait to meet delegates, share insights, answer questions, and contribute to what promises to be an informative and inspiring day.

See you in Oxford in November! 🎉

We’re excited to introduce the incredible panel members joining us at the UK Nanny Conference Oxford 2026! 🎉

Our panel brings together a wealth of experience, knowledge, and passion from across the childcare industry, each with unique insights to share, thought-provoking perspectives, and practical advice to help support your professional journey.

Over the coming weeks, take some time to visit their websites, explore their profiles, and discover the amazing work they do. From industry leaders and educators to childcare specialists and advocates, there’s so much inspiration to be found.

Get to know the experts before the conference, prepare your questions, and join us for what promises to be an engaging and insightful discussion.

✨ Follow the tags, visit their pages, and show them some love in the comments below!
Mark Bates Ltd
Way2paye
Elite Nanny CV
Parent Rescue
Lactationgo

📍 UK Nanny Conference Oxford 2026
📅 14th November 2026
⏰ 0930 - 1700
🎟️ Tickets £60, available now through UK Nanny. www.uknanny.org/event/oxford

14/06/2026

Self-employed carers spend their days supporting others, but what happens if illness or injury stops you from working?

In this short video, we explain Income Protection and why it can be such an important safety net for self-employed carers and Personal Assistants.