Thank you

to everyone who made the Accessible Town evening such a success Monday 3rd December 2018.

It was a wonderful way to celebrate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (#IDPwD) and the #MakeAChange awards.

All year round

Hidden Disabilities lanyard scheme

Monday 3rd December 2018

International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPwD)

Monday 3rd December 2018

Accessible Christmas lights and shopping event

Welcome to the Guernsey Accessible Town project

What’s it all about?

Nearly one in every five people in the UK has a disability or impairment, and over half of households have a connection to someone with a disability. The States of Guernsey Disability Needs Survey 2012  highlighted 4,000 Islanders in Guernsey and Alderney with a long-term condition and who experience significant difficulty in everyday life. That’s an estimated 6% of the population and 14,000 people (21% of the population) in Guernsey and Alderney with a long term condition that affects their day to day life.  Its is estimated that there are over 4,000 carers in Guernsey (unpaid).

Their collective spending power – the Purple Pound – is worth £249 billion to the UK economy and the same proportionately in Guernsey.  However, this potential is not being fully realised. There are still real (and perceived) barriers that make it harder for disabled people to find work, spend money online and in store, and enjoy a drink or meal out.

The aim of the Accessible Town project is to make customer-facing businesses more aware of these opportunities and challenges and inspire them to make changes to improve the disabled customer experience over the long term. This was the basis for our #MakeAChange campaign in 2017 to encourage Guernsey to ‘Think Differently about Disability’ and flows through into this broader project. The project has grown exponentially, with well over 60 partners, more than 40 volunteers on the night. It has truly become a community affair!

In 2018 we will celebrate the UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities (#IDPwD) Monday 3rd December by:

  • Hosting Guernsey’s 1st Accessible Christmas lights event. Taking place in St Peter Port with the main entertainment in Market Square, we will listen to local talented musicians, enjoy Guernseys Deaf Children’s society signing to carols, shop at our member charity stalls and more (details here). Children’s activities will take place in the Inner Market and a quiet zone in the library.
  • Provide a more Accessible Shopping experience for disabled islander and carers. more than 17 shops will be open for late night shopping, you can view the list here. We have provided a wide range of resources for local retailers and businesses to increase their Disability Confidence: Purple Tuesday resources; our local Hints and Tips; Hidden Disabilities lanyard training. On the night there will be extra blue badge parking, seating, toilets, quiet zones and people to assist.
  • #MakeAChange: Celebrating individuals, groups and businesses that have endeavoured to #MakeAChange locally. These nominations are shown on the We All Matter Eh? website here The Nominations will take place during the entertainment in market square as part of the Accessible Christmas evening – around 6pm
  • Encouraging local buildings to sign up to #PurpleLightUp (so far St James and the Market Buildings are confirmed)

We dedicate ourselves to raising awareness and changing attitudes in Guernsey to give all our islanders and visitors equality of opportunity to take a full and active part in island life.

How can you support us?

This ambitious project is run by Access for All volunteers and partners. We are extremely grateful for the communities support. You can assist by:

  • donating to the project
  • volunteering on the night
  • running a stall

Thanks to:
Overall Project supporters: Lloyds Bank Foundation and Employment Social Security (ESS), States of Guernsey and Chamber of Commerce.

Our event Sponsors: Sure Community Foundation and Butterfield Bank

Our partners that have contributed financially to the project, without whom we could not run:  The Co-operative Society, Ravenscroft, Guernsey Recycling Group, Dementia Friends Guernsey, Create Architects and a number of unnamed funders.

We are also grateful to a large number of partners who have made this initiative as successful and sustainable as possible. Including local retailers, hospitality businesses, community groups, disability charities, the Government (States of Guernsey) and more ….

We thank the many partners, sponsors and supporters that are bringing this inclusive events together for the first time.

Find out more about each event in the tabs above and please don’t hesitate to contact the project lead Karen Blanchford on karen@matter.gg for more information

What is IDPwD International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPwD)?

What it is?

The United Nations’ (UN) International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPwD) is annually observed on 3rd December. To find out more about #IDPwD view the UN webpage here

Observance of the day aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilise support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities.

It also seeks to increase awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life within our communities across the world.

The #MakeAChange celebrations will be held on Monday 3rd December from 6pm

The celebration aims to recognise the outstanding achievements of organisations, groups and individuals that have worked to improve accessibility and inclusion for disabled islanders and carers in Guernsey. In 2018 specific focus will be on the changes made as part of the Accessible Town project.

All nominees will be recognised in a display in the Inner Market Hall and at the celebrations in Market Square, Monday 3rd December (running 5:30-7:30pm)

Our key partners in this project are:

Special thanks to Lloyds Bank Foundation for their support for the project

States of Guernsey