A black glossy acrylic security pass with pink text reading ‘Access All Areas 101’ #AAA101. The pass is attached to a white fabric lanyard and is laid on a grey background
AAA101 introduction - click here!
To get on the guest list - Questionnaire


Bad reviews in the press and on social media make so many disabled people believe that attending live events isn’t possible.

THAT IS JUST NOT TRUE!

I’m a wheelchair user and I go to A LOT of events – music, comedy, sport, theatre.
A disability or impairment may mean you have to do things differently or plan more, but it doesn't mean missing out.
There may be hurdles or additional costs along the way, but that doesn't mean there aren't places, people, and organisations who will bend over backward to help you have the experience you want and deserve - you just have to find them! But it can be done, and it’s awesome!
Whether you are a wheelchair user, have a rollator, use a stick or cane, or simply struggle along like I used to, there are many shops, eateries, small and large businesses, event spaces, accommodation, and such that have made adaptations and added facilities to make them more accessible to anyone with disabilities or impairments. 
When you think about it, making things accessible helps more people. Look at parents for example – ramps and wider doorways make things easier with prams and pushchairs.

‘Disabled individuals, along with their friends and families, make up a substantial segment of the population. Ignoring this demographic means missing out on a massive potential customer base. Families of disabled people in the UK are estimated to spend £274 billion a year, on a global scale this amount goes up to over £16 trillion.’
Source - Purple Goat Agency

Damian, a white male wearing black framed glasses with short, mousy hair is wearing a yellow and black checked shirt. He is outside the open door of an entrance to a pub and only shown from the chest upwards. He is leaning back slightly, pointing over his left shoulder to a neon sign reading ‘Hello Gorgeous’ and his lips are puckered
Damian, a white male wearing black framed glasses with short, mousy hair is wearing a yellow and black checked shirt. He is outside the open door of an entrance to a pub and only shown from the chest upwards. He is leaning back slightly, pointing over his left shoulder to a neon sign reading ‘Hello Gorgeous’ and his lips are puckered
Damian, a white male wearing black framed glasses with a black baseball cap in a pink framed wheelchair. He is wearing a black Black Stone Cherry t-shirt and grey jeans. We can only see him from the knees upwards. His chair is positioned in front, to the right-hand side of a long table covered with a black cover. Behind the table are 4 white men from a rock band. The one nearest to Damian is leaning forwards and has a hand on Damian’s shoulder.
Damian, a white male wearing black framed glasses with a black baseball cap in a pink framed wheelchair. He is wearing a black Black Stone Cherry t-shirt and grey jeans. We can only see him from the knees upwards. His chair is positioned in front, to the right-hand side of a long table covered with a black cover. Behind the table are 4 white men from a rock band. The one nearest to Damian is leaning forwards and has a hand on Damian’s shoulder.
Damian, a white male wearing black framed glasses with short, mousy hair in a pink framed wheelchair. He is wearing a black and grey hoodie, ripped jeans and pink shoes. He is leaning to his right with his right arm on a large fibreglass figurine of a cartoon character and he is smiling at the camera
Damian, a white male wearing black framed glasses with short, mousy hair in a pink framed wheelchair. He is wearing a black and grey hoodie, ripped jeans and pink shoes. He is leaning to his right with his right arm on a large fibreglass figurine of a cartoon character and he is smiling at the camera
Venues for music, theatre, sport, comedy, exhibitions, conferences, and other live events are implementing improvements to accessibility but unless you've used the venue, you might not even know what they have to offer.
Many venues have designated access areas, raised platforms, offer early access, in-seat drinks service, free carer or companion tickets, designated access hosts, and even separate queues and entrances. Spaces tend to be limited and sometimes getting the tickets can be tricky.
Like everything, there are always people who will have a bad experience or find something isn’t accessible to them, but this isn’t always the case.
What also comes to the forefront in the summer is the amount of coverage in the press and on social media of bad disabled access to events.
The bad experiences with ticketing, lack of facilities for those with access needs, poor provision of accessible seating, and horror stories of experiences being ruined.
It causes issues when some of these events are held in spaces that aren’t designed for that kind of event, such as music in a football stadium or a festival in a farmer’s field.
With any highly attended event, there are going to be hiccups, but this kind of media makes so many disabled people believe that attending live events isn’t possible.
I’ve had so many good experiences. So many memorable nights. Evenings under the setting sun. Gigs in the rain or the cold wind. Laughing at comedians. Weekends at racing circuits, soaking up the atmosphere in the paddock. Viewing New York City from the top of the One World Trade Centre. Cheering on the winning team in a football stadium. Cheering on the losing team in a football stadium. You can experience it too.
This is where the idea for Access All Areas came from – spreading awareness of the accessibility of venues across the UK (and possibly beyond!) and highlighting where improvements can be made.
I want to start a dialogue with venues and venue management about their facilities and how they can improve. I’d also like to look at transport links and speak to relevant bodies about how access can be integrated.
I’d also love to be able to converse with bands, acts, and performers as well as their management and promoters to raise awareness of gig-goers potential access needs and give them information to consider when booking venues for performances.
Damian, a white male wearing black framed glasses with short, mousy hair. He is pictured from the shoulders upwards against a plain white background. He has his eyes closed and his face scrunched up as he rubs his itchy nose
Damian, a white male wearing black framed glasses with short, mousy hair. He is pictured from the shoulders upwards against a plain white background. He has his eyes closed and his face scrunched up as he rubs his itchy nose
Damian, a white male wearing black framed glasses and a hot pink bobble hat. He is pictured from the waist upwards and he is outside on a seafront with a small cobble fishing baot behind him. He is wearing a brown hoodie with a white ‘Boys Get Sad Too’ logo. He is looking at the camera, poking his tongue out of the left hand corner of his mouth and both hands are making a rock devil horns hand gesture.
Damian, a white male wearing black framed glasses and a hot pink bobble hat. He is pictured from the waist upwards and he is outside on a seafront with a small cobble fishing baot behind him. He is wearing a brown hoodie with a white ‘Boys Get Sad Too’ logo. He is looking at the camera, poking his tongue out of the left hand corner of his mouth and both hands are making a rock devil horns hand gesture.
Damian, a white male wearing black framed glasses and a black baseball cap. He is pictured from the knees upwards and he is outside in front of metal railings. He is wearing a b;ack t-shirt advertising the Hella Mega tour. He is looking at the camera, poking his tongue out of the left hand corner of his mouth. His left hand is making a rock devil horns hand gesture and his right hand is holding a large paper cup with Emirates Old Trafford logo printed in red
Damian, a white male wearing black framed glasses and a black baseball cap. He is pictured from the knees upwards and he is outside in front of metal railings. He is wearing a b;ack t-shirt advertising the Hella Mega tour. He is looking at the camera, poking his tongue out of the left hand corner of his mouth. His left hand is making a rock devil horns hand gesture and his right hand is holding a large paper cup with Emirates Old Trafford logo printed in red
WHAT AM I DOING?

I had this mad idea – 101 events in 101 venues! And just like that, Access All Areas 101 was born! 
101 venues, across the UK and beyond, showing the accessibility of the venues and promoting positive experiences, making blog posts and videos as I go along.
I want to cover all aspects from the event being announced and the booking process, how to get to the venue, parking, etc right through to leaving the event, getting home, and looking to resolve any issues that might have occurred.
Me being me, if the experience isn’t so good, I’ll aim to work with the venue to help and advise them on how the experience can be improved.
Indoors, outdoors, large, small – anything goes! Likewise, the event itself – as long as it’s live it can be music, sport, comedy, theatre (you get the idea!)


HOW CAN I GET YOU INVOLVED?

I’m aiming to take some of my disabled friends along with me to get their views and do some recorded interviews and social media content.
This will also widen the range of access needs at the venues to more than just wheelchair users. 
To get your name added to the guest list, click here to fill out our questionnaire
If I could smash 101, I’d be willing to try more if I can get the support. I’d also like to involve some challenges along the journey and, if in any way possible, I’d like to be able to try and raise some money for charity (suggestions welcome!)


WHAT HELP DO I NEED?
I’m on the lookout for help to make this project happen, whether it be sharing contacts, advice, social media plugs, support, sponsorship – anything that can make this happen!
I’m looking to reach out to:
-    Venue Management
-    Promoters and organisers of events
-    Acts and artists – music, theatre, comedy, the arts etc
-    Sports players / teams / venues
-    Travel companies
-    Hotels and accommodation
-    Ticket handling companies
-    Press outlets who can get on board to help promote the project
-    Brands and products that can help with event access, i.e. ear plugs, wheelchairs, clothing, travel cups, wheelchair accessories
-    Brands or companies that can help with my promotion of the project and events, i.e. content creation, technology, hardware, software, social media promotion, promotional materials (stickers, business cards)
-    Sponsors, in the way of a monetary contribution or provision of anything that can help move the project forwards

Any help, however big or small will be greatly appreciated and will all contribute to making this project a success.
I’m hoping that anyone who does get involved will be happy to be plugged in any promotional material for the project and in turn share the social media content.
I’ll be tagging Instagram and social media accounts as I go along and making a point of plugging people who have been involved.
By promoting the positive experience and co-operation for disabled people, it is hoped that the coverage of the project will be beneficial to those supporting the project.
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