Have you always been interested in events ? When I was a kid , I used to love helping my mum organise the best parties that looked after everyone ; my parents ’ friends and all the kids . I was set to head to university to become a teacher when I finished school , but when I was applying I had no idea of the career paths in events .

When did you first get involved in events professionally and what led to it ? I bought tickets to Wireless Festival and had the best time . That summer , I did all I could to find paid work at any festival , working some tough shifts . I was having the time of my life and rejected my university offers because I knew it was something I wanted to commit to . I spent my summers touring around the UK working at all the biggest festivals and my winters working as a carer , looking after disabled seniors or children . I started working in the disabled access team at Festival Republic where my events and carers knowledge came together , and I realised I had found my dream job . I have since helped improve access at IMG ’ s Hyde Park Winter Wonderland , along with

other more intimate events , before taking the position as head of accessibility for Pride in London .

What do you feel are the biggest challenges when it comes to accessibility at outdoor events ? In the past couple of years , people have started to realise the importance of accessibility . Unfortunately , it is still an afterthought . This inevitably leads to higher costs , and having to go back in to rectify things that could have been avoided with the help of an accessibility specialist . Accessibility needs to be considered during the initial stages of planning , as it will save event organisers money in the long run with fewer complaints regarding access . People like me , who are working to improve accessibility , are trying to share the voices of some of the most vulnerable people in our society – I think we can now all better understand some of the frustration of not being able physically to go out . When we can have events again , no one should feel they cannot attend due to lack of access .

Is the events industry doing enough to tackle the issue and do you feel it is being taken seriously enough ? During lockdown 1.0 , I spent my time creating and sending out event accessibility questionnaires to every access group I could find online to get feedback . The general opinion is that more needs to be done . The community is amazing at telling us

what they need – all we need to do is listen .

Have any event operators particularly impressed you with the way they are aiding accessibility , and if so , why ? Pride in London has been doing fantastic work . It is keen to ensure accessibility is mainstream and company-wide . It is so refreshing to have such undoubtable support from everyone , wanting to guarantee inclusivity for everyone in the LGBTQ + community , including those who are also part of the D / deaf and disabled community . It is superb at listening to advice from specialists , which is why in 2018 it won a Gold Award from Attitude is Everything .

If you could wave a wand and have just one accessibility measure / initiative implemented at all events and venues , what would it be ? This is going to sound really simple , but one of my biggest pet peeves and common mistakes is ramps – ramps not being flush to the ground , having huge step-ups to get onto them , being too narrow , too long or steep . If a ramp is built , get in a wheelchair and try to use it .

So many organisers claim they have made things accessible , but if they had taken one minute to just try it out for themselves , they would realise what an awful experience it is . Making an event accessible is so much more than about making it wheelchair-friendly , yet we haven ’ t even managed to do that well yet .