access.

Information on the facilitation of disabled people at Pride London

Introduction

Pride London aims to be a fully accessible event. Many of the accessibility requirements for putting on an event in a public space are easily overlooked – and indeed should not stand out as being ‘special’ arrangements rather than being an integral part of the production – but these will make a critical difference in removing barriers to participation.

Getting to the Event

Bus Shuttle System

Once again this year, (thanks to the generous co-operation of Transport for London) we'll be helping people get to the start of the parade with three Dial-a-Ride buses which will operate a shuttle system, prior to the start.

Please do note however that all times below are very approximate and will almost certainly be affected by traffic. If in any doubt please try to get to the pickup points early.

The Dial-a-Ride bus drivers will aim to park in fairly obvious spots when picking up passengers, (most probably where Dial-a-Ride buses would normally stop) and definitely won’t leave before the allotted time, (although they may arrive early). Each bus will have a sign in the front window to make identifying it easier.

Bus No.1 - Trafalgar Square Shuttle

This bus will run a shuttle service between Trafalgar Square to Portman Square The bus will leave on 30 minute intervals or whenever the bus is full, whichever is the sooner. It will operate between 9.00am and 11.30am, (the time of the final Portman Square drop off).

Bus No.2 - West Train Stations

This bus will pickup people from the following places: Fenchurch Street: 9.00am - 9.20am, Liverpool Street: 9.40am - 10.00am, Kings Cross/St Pancras: 10.20am - 10.40am, Euston: 11.00am - 11.20am, Portman Square drop off: 11.40am.

Bus No.3 - East Train Stations

This bus will pickup people from the following places: Victoria Rail Station: 9.00am - 9.20am, Paddington: 9.40am - 10.00am, Marylebone: 10.20am - 10.40am, Portman Square drop off: 11.00am.

Parking

Parking in central London remains a very difficult area for anyone holding a public event. Due to the fact that blue badge parking needs to be available for any blue badge holder, we're not able to specifically reserve parking for Pride London participants.

There are however over 50 parking spaces around Soho, Covent Garden and in the West End. Whilst we're not going to be able to reserve these parking spaces it does mean that there is a fair amount of parking provision out there. At weekends, blue badge holders can park in these bays all day.

Westminster has a total of 323 blue badge parking bays. There’s a full list here

The Parade

Access Stewards

Pride London recruits both disabled and non-disabled stewards to assist with enabling accessibility. Although access stewards receive the same core training as other stewards (along with additional specialist training), they are not assigned to general stewarding duties.

Safe Space

There will be an accessible safe space at the front of the parade which is open to anyone with access needs who wishes to use it, along with their partners, family and friends (although non-disabled parade-goers may be asked to leave by stewards if they are acting inappropriately). Whistles will not be allowed in this area.

The access team will be aiming to ensure the integrity of the safe space by keeping it separate, (in a non-invasive way) from the onlooking crowds and other parade-goers. This enables people to participate who might otherwise be excluded by concerns about jostling or being overwhelmed.

We position the safe space towards the front of the parade to ensure that the speed and pace is regulated by the people in the space. This enables parade-goers to participate who might otherwise be excluded by concerns about not being able to keep up.

While the parade is forming up, the safe space will be located in Fitzhardinge Street. A map is downloadable from here

A Dial-a-Ride bus will follow the safe space when the parade commences. This ensures that parade-goers who have been overcome by fatigue, have a puncture etc are not left behind, possibly some distance from any pre-arranged parking and available help. The remaining two Dial-a-Ride buses are positioned at the mid-way point and at the end of the parade and are designed to be used by anyone with access needs outside of the safe space.

There'll be two British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters to assist those within the safe space and to provide an easily-identifiable point where interpretation is available for general information on the parade. The presence of interpreters also facilitates communication between Deaf parade-goers and others, thus combating exclusion.

Trafalgar Square

Pride London provides a ramped viewing platform on the North Terrace of Trafalgar Square (the geography of the Square dictates its position). The viewing platform is reserved for people with access needs who wish to use it, along with their partners, PAs, families and friends. The viewing platform enables people to participate in the Trafalgar Square events who may otherwise be excluded by concerns over jostling, or who may be unable to see over standing spectators. Power will be provided to the viewing platform to allow wheelchair recharging to take place as needed.

The performances and speeches on the main stage in Trafalgar Square will be interpreted by specialist BSL interpreters. Interpretation is filmed and shown on a large projection screen, (next to the main stage) ensuring that everyone is able to see the interpreter and follow what's going on easily. BSL interpreters will also be available at the viewing platform to provide information and facilitate conversations between Deaf Parade-goers and others.

There will also be facilities for assistance dogs at the viewing platform in the form of a source of fresh water, dog bowls and a small turfed area for toiletry use.

Accessible Toilets in Central London

Accessible toilet provision in central London is much better that a was a few years ago, thanks to the Disability Discrimination Act. However it is still an area that many disabled people struggle with. Pride London stewards working in the access team will be able to supply parade participants with information on the nearest accessible toilet and the team will also have several RADAR keys available to unlock these if necessary.

You can find a useful list of accessible toilets in Westminster here