An innovative project to improve access to events and venues in Brightlingsea was launched with great success at Brightlingsea’s Free Music Festival.
The Brightlingsea Accessibility Map proved its worth at the two-day event on Hurst Green, where there was a special area with accessible facilities set aside for people with extra needs.
Wheelchair user Connor Morris from Brightlingsea was among those welcoming the initiative. He has helped with accessibility research for the project and said: “It is a really excellent idea. I have often been to events and venues and wished that there had been some information about how accessible the facilities will be. This meets that need and is a great thing for Brightlingsea.”
The project – a joint initiative by Brightlingsea WinterFest – was the brainchild of local physiotherapist Nicola Stephens, supported by Brightlingsea Town Council. It lists local businesses, organisations, events and activities in Brightlingsea and what they offer, to support those living with disability, neurodiversity, or any other access needs.
Participating premises – there are now more than 30 – have a map outside to show what facilities are on offer and a list can be seen on the Visit Brightlingsea website.
Nicola, a crew member for Brightlingsea WinterFest said: “It was through my work as a physiotherapist and sensory integration practitioner that it became evident that more awareness was needed. Plus, as a parent of a neurodiverse young person, we came to realise that Brightlingsea has a wealth of hidden support within the community.
“Brightlingsea Free Music Festival was the first festival to take this concept on board. After detailed conversations they spent a year planning how to make the festival more accessible. They invested in a beautiful bell tent to create a quieter and calmer space, along with a dedicated baby change, more wheelchair accessible toilets, better ramp access and blue badge parking.”
Nicola added: “We are planning to expand the Brightlingsea Accessibility Map and would welcome the involvement of more venues, organisations and events in the town. We recognise that different people’s access needs do vary and that businesses, groups, organisations and events are limited by money, building restrictions, insurance and other factors., but this piece of work is about highlighting and publicising the positives, not criticising the limitations.”
For more information about the Brightlingsea Accessibility Map contact [email protected]
