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    Disability Pride Brighton

    Photo:  Early morning view of Hove Lawns, with stalls and stage, with the first visitors arriving

    Written by Tina, a Euan's Guide Ambassador based in London.

    On Sunday 14th July 2019, I was proud and delighted to attend Disability Pride Brighton as Euan’s Guide’s London Ambassador. I had a brilliant day, the entire event was accessible, inclusive and uplifting.

    Disability Pride Brighton is an annual event which was established in 2017, in response to Jenny Skelton, the founder’s, disabled daughter being discriminated against on a family day out, and it was the first Disability Pride Festival in England. This year’s festival coincided with Disability Pride events in New YorkRome and Senegal.

    Photo: Disability Pride Brighton stallPhoto: Disability Pride Brighton stall

    Photo: Disability Pride Brighton stall

    Disability Pride celebrates the diversity of the disabled community, provides a safe and welcoming space for disabled people and non-disabled people, our friends, families and allies to come together to have a fun and entertaining day out, as well as raise awareness about disability discrimination.

    Disability Pride opened with a short parade led by Unified Rhythm, a disabled integrated carnival group.

    Photo: Unified Rhythm performing at Disability PridePhoto: Unified Rhythm performing at Disability Pride

    Photo: Unified Rhythm performing at Disability Pride

    The venue was Hove Lawns, with level access and beautiful, sea front location. There was something for everyone, entertainment, stalls, face painting, children's soft play area, quiet areas and a lot of seats. There were also food stalls with delicious and reasonably priced food, as well as picnic areas.

    Photo: Quiet area and children’s activity stallsPhoto: Quiet area and children’s activity stalls

    Photo: Quiet area and children’s activity stalls

    Throughout the day, visitors were entertained with live music, dance, theatre and sport displays, on two stages, with BSL interpreters. Both stages were extremely popular with audiences enjoying a relaxed, party atmosphere.

    Photo: Performance by 238 Dance CrewPhoto: Performance by 238 Dance CrewPhoto: Performance by 238 Dance Crew

    Photo: Paper Dragon performing with BSL interpreterPhoto: Paper Dragon performing with BSL interpreter

    Photo: Paper Dragon performing with BSL interpreter

    There were also lots of stalls featuring a wide variety of community groups and charities, mainly but not exclusively disabled organisations in the Brighton and Sussex area, and the LGBT+ community were well represented. The stalls were full of useful information and there were leaflets, key rings, wristbands, badges, stickers and pens to pick up.

    During the day I tried to visit most of the stalls and find out about the diversity of the community resources available. You can find a list of all the stall holders who took part in this year’s event at the end of this blog. (I hope I haven’t missed anyone out).

    Photo: The exterior of the MobilooPhoto: The exterior of the Mobiloo

    Photo: The exterior of the Mobiloo

    The day was extremely well organised, the programme of events thoughtfully put together and fully accessible to all. There was plenty of helpful information on the festival’s website , which made it really easy to plan the day out. From Brighton Railway Station there were regular, free, accessible shuttle buses that took you straight to the entrance at Hove Lawn and then returned you back to the station, which removed all the stress and worry about finding the venue. There were accessible toilets including the Mobiloo, an accessible toilet with adult-sized changing bench and hoist.

    I’m already counting down to Disability Pride Brighton 2020, and I would also like to challenge other towns and cities to learn from Brighton’s example and adopt their own Disability Pride festivals.

    List of Stall Holders (taken from the Disability Pride Brighton website)

    Albion In the Community WebsiteFacebookTwitterYouTube

    Amaze WebsiteFacebookTwitterYouTube

    Barnardos Brighton & Hove Link Plus WebsiteFacebookTwitterYouTube

    Beach Access Team Brighton & Hove Facebook

    Brighton & Hove Bus and Coach Company WebsiteFacebookTwitterYouTube

    Brighton and Hove LGBT Community Safety Forum WebsiteFacebookTwitter

    Brighton and Hove Speak Out WebsiteFacebookTwitterYouTube

    Brighton and Sussex University Hospital Trust WebsiteFacebookTwitterYouTube

    Brighton Disabled People Against Cuts WebsiteFacebookTwitterYouTube

    Brighton Dome & Festival  WebsiteFacebookTwitterYouTube

    Brighton Pavilion Labour Party WebsiteFacebookTwitterYouTube

    Chailey Heritage Foundation WebsiteFacebookTwitterYouTube

    Chestnut Tree House WebsiteFacebookTwitterVimeo

    East Sussex Credit Union WebsiteFacebookTwitter

    East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service WebsiteFacebookTwitterYouTube

    Epilepsy Action Brighton & Hove Coffee and Chat group WebsiteFacebookTwitter

    ESAB VIABLE WebsiteFacebookYouTube

    Fabrica Art Gallery WebsiteFacebookTwitter

    Grace Eyre WebsiteFacebookTwitter

    New Life Long term illness/pain support group Meetup group

    Independent Living East Sussex Facebook

    KidzPlay Events Creche WebsiteFacebookTwitter

    MindOut LGBTQ Mental Health Support services WebsiteFacebookTwitterYouTube

    The Open University Sexuality Alliance Website

    PECS UK WebsiteFacebookTwitterYouTube

    Possability People WebsiteFacebookTwitterVimeo

    Rise WebsiteFacebookTwitter

    Say Aphasia Charity WebsiteFacebookTwitterInstagram

    Scope’s Local People Programme WebsiteFacebookTwitterYouTube

    SE Apprenticeship Ambassador Network WebsiteFacebookTwitter

    St. John’s School and College WebsiteTwitterYouTube

    Stay Up Late WebsiteFacebookTwitterYouTube

    Survivors’ Network WebsiteFacebookTwitter

    Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust WebsiteFacebookTwitterYouTube

    Sussex Police WebsiteFacebookTwitterYouTube

    Switchboard WebsiteFacebookTwitter

    The Carers Centre for Brighton and Hove Website

    The Clare Project WebsiteFacebookTwitter

    The Parent and Carers Council (PaCC) WebsiteFacebookTwitterYouTube

    The Royal British Legion WebsiteFacebookTwitterYouTube

    St John’s Ambulance WebsiteFacebookTwitterYouTube

    University of Brighton WebsiteFacebookTwitterYouTube

    Locations: Brighton