Abstract: An apparatus (1) for deploying and supporting a flexible object (7). The apparatus comprises an elongate support (3) comprising a longitudinal first guide (4), an elongate flexible member (5) longitudinally slidable relative to the first guide (4), a first connector (9), connected to the flexible elongate member (5) and adapted to be attached to the flexible object (7), a longitudinal second guide 6, and at least one sliding connector (9, 11, 13); (106, 111, 113; 209, 211, 213), longitudinally slidable relative to the second guide (6) and adapted to be attached to the flexible object (7). The flexible elongate member (5) is adapted to be pushed along the first guide (4) via an externally applied longitudinal force, transferred as a compressive internal force along the flexible member (5), to move the flexible object (7) from a first position to a deployed position.