Pride Cymru has achieved a gold Attitude is Everything award, after being the first Pride event to join the Charter of Best Practice when it achieved a silver award in 2015.
The award by Attitude is Everything reflects a range of activity designed to make Pride Cymru as inclusive as possible, including:
· Having a Mobiloo Changes Places Toilet at their event to enable people to attend who need to use a hoist.
· Working with People First Wales to provide Easy Read information for customers who need it.
· Implementing a Quiet Zone with scooter recharge points.
· Providing British Sign Language interpretation of performances.
· Ensuring all backstage areas and dressing rooms are accessible.
Pride Cymru’s Big Weekend saw 50,000 attendees get together on the City Hall Lawns in Cardiff last August to celebrate equality and inclusivity. Pride Cymru is only the second Pride in the UK to gain the Gold Award.
Recognised by the influential UK Live Music Group as the “industry standard” in accessibility, Attitude is Everything’s Charter is a framework built around Bronze, Silver and Gold awards that covers all aspects of live event accessibility.
The Gold Award is the highest award, reflecting ongoing and long-term commitment to improving and building upon access provision, consultation with deaf and disabled people, and work carried out to ensure that events are accessible for artists and workers alongside audiences.
Helen Rankin, Pride Cymru’s Accessibility Manager, said: “We have worked incredibly hard to make access the core of Pride Cymru. Year on year, we have increased the facilities available to our volunteers, customers and artists, and we are over the moon to receive our Gold standard award from Attitude is Everything.
“My saying is ‘If you want to come to Pride Cymru, you should be able to.’ I hope the work at Pride Cymru allows more people to feel confident in attending.”
Paul Hawkins, Festivals and Volunteering Manager at Attitude is Everything, said, “We have worked with Pride Cymru since 2014 and, in 2015 they became the first Pride event to join Our Charter of Best Practice. Over the years, Helen and the team have worked extremely hard to give customers the best possible experience. This has been reflected in the fantastic feedback from their customers and we are delighted to award them Gold!”
