6 Accessible Events To Enjoy In July
1st July 2024
July marks the celebration of Disability Pride month with many organisations putting on their own events and activities. This is a great opportunity to raise awareness and showcase disabled people's talents and contributions to society.
The children's summer holidays are coming up too and we share 6 accessible events for disabled people and their families to enjoy and keep everyone entertained.
1) Wireless Festival Finsbury Park
12th – 14th July
Join the Wireless Festival over 3 days as they bring you live performances from Nicki Minaj, Shaun Paul, J Hus and many more, including special guests. To purchase your tickets, follow the link Rockstar Energy presents Wireless Festival | Home
Accessibility
The disabled access team will be on hand to help disabled visitors. Access viewing platforms are available for wheelchair users.
Accessible toilets are available around the arena. They also provide a dedicated entrance for disabled visitors and a sensory zone for those who need a quiet space.
To find out more about accessibility at the event, follow the link Rockstar Energy presents Wireless Festival | Info | Accessibility Info
2) Pure London
14 -16th July Kensington Olympia London from 9.30am – 6pm
16th July from 9.30am – 4pm
If you love fashion attend Pure London, this is the UK’s largest festival of fashion as it brings you the latest in fashion trends and must-have collections under one roof with an opportunity for brands and designers to meet and make those all-important connections. To find out more and to get your free ticket follow the link Pure London 2024 Visitor Registration | Pure London x JATC
Accessibility
Disabled parking is available but it needs to be pre-booked online as spaces are limited. The disabled bays are on a first come first serve basis even if you pre-book it cannot be guaranteed.
Wheelchairs are available to hire at the event on receipt of a deposit, which is refundable. It’s best to book in advance by emailing feedback@olympia.london.
The venue has unisex-accessible toilets available
The event has a portable hearing loop system and assistance animals are welcome to the event.
To find out more about the accessibility of the event, follow the link Accessibility | Pure London x JATC at Olympia London
3) Disability Festival in the park
17th July Christchurch Green from 12pm – 7pm
July marks Disability Pride month and to celebrate many organisations will be putting on their own activities and events for disabled people to enjoy. The annual Disability Festival in the park is back on the 17th of July with a whole host of entertainment put on by disabled professionals and non-professional talent, including music, dancing, fashion show catwalk and much more. To find out more, follow the link Disability Festival in the Park 2024 is Coming! - One Place East
4) The Science Museum
20th July from 6.30pm – 9.30pm
The Science Museum hosts a sensory-friendly event across the year. The museum is open before or after hours for those with sensory impairments. This gives individuals with Autism a chance to explore the museum in a quieter and relaxed environment. Please note, the events are FREE but need to be booked. To find out more and to book, follow the link, Early Bird Accessible Event.
Accessibility
The museum offers a range of accessible facilities for deaf and disabled visitors. To find out more, follow the link Science Museum Accessibility
5) Uptown Festival
28th July at Blackheath Common from 12 noon – 10pm
This event will have live performances with free entertainment and attractions as well as concession fun fair rides for children. Food and drink will be available to enjoy as well. To purchase your tickets, follow the link Uptown Festival 2024 Tickets at Blackheath Common in London by Uptown Festival Blackheath | Tixr
Accessibility
Disabled parking
They have 40 spaces available and are limited. In order to secure your space you need to show proof of purchase of your ticket and a copy of your blue badge. This should be sent to info@thefestivalcrowd.com.
For full details about the accessibility, follow the link Accessibility | Uptown Festival London
6) The Southbank Centre
Belvedere Road SE1
The Southbank Centre hosts some free and paid accessible events through - out July, from music, art and dance for the whole family to enjoy. To see a full list of their events and activities, follow the link Access events | Southbank Centre
Accessibility
They offer a free access scheme for deaf and disabled visitors so you can make the most of what the centre has to offer during your visit. To find out more, follow the link Access Scheme | Southbank Centre.
Breaking Down Barriers In Paraclimbing
23rd May 2024
In the latest episode, of My Voice Podcast, Zubee and co-host Raya Al Jadir are joined by guest speaker Anoushé Husain MBE, who is an ex-para climber. She shares her journey into the sport and some of the challenges she faced growing up.
Despite this, she went on to achieve a Guinness world record for climbing using one hand, has been awarded an MBE to surviving Cancer and much more.
Listen now on Spotify https://lnkd.in/e98ea3_z
SBS London Regional Business Bootcamp
13th May 2024 250 Bishopsgate
On the 13th of May we attended the SBS Regional Business Bootcamp in London organised by Theo and the SBS team. We enjoyed hearing presentations from Natwest on understanding your customer, Google Digital Garage on understanding Google analytics and SBS winner Fran on Instagram and influencers.
The SBS team had organised a special guest appearance from #SBS creator Theo Paphitiis who was interviewed by James Holian, Natwest's Managing Director of Business Banking. They spoke about SBS and how it started, how to grow your business and mental health.
This was a great opportunity for the SBS community to meet and network. We really enjoyed it and look forward to attending future events.
Ramadan Reflections From A Different Perspective
3rd April 2024
In the latest episode of My Voice podcast, we invite back Anjum Khan to speak to her and our co-host Raya, about Ramadan, what it means and why they cannot fast. We each share our individual perspectives and what the holy month means for us.
Listen now on Spotify, by following the link Ramadan Reflections and catch up on our previous episodes too.
We are always on the lookout for guests. If you are interested in sharing your story, please contact us.
Access My Events At The Small Business Sunday Event 2024
23rd February 2024
Access My Events attends their first Small Business Sunday #SBS event, organised by Theo and his team. This is an amazing opportunity for businesses in the #SBS community to network and meet with former and new winners. We share our journey from how it all started and what it meant to us to be in attendance among other amazing businesses, including hearing and meeting with #SBS creator himself, Theo Paphitis.
About Small Business Sunday
On the 24th of July 2023, we entered the Small Business Sunday, #SBS, weekly competition on Twitter. This is one of the UK’s leading business networks, founded by Dragons Den star, Theo Paphitis. We didn’t expect to win and when it was announced that Access My Events was a winner of #SBS, we couldn’t believe it. As a winner of #SBS you get a boost on social media through Theo’s large social media following and you get to join a large community of small business owners with the opportunity to attend an annual event organised by Theo and his team.
Planning Our Journey
When the event date was announced for the 23rd of February, we were very excited and couldn’t wait to attend, being our first #SBS event. We started to plan our travel and book accommodation in advance. While doing this, the excitement was building to the day of the event. We decided to travel a day before so that we could take it easy and be there on time because it was a full day from 9.00am until 5.30pm. For the first time we booked passenger assistance for our journey from London Euston to Birmingham by train and both ways Zubee had the assistance with no problems.
When we arrived in Birmingham, we took an Uber to the hotel and the Uber had dropped us off at the wrong hotel because there were two hotels with the same name. When we eventually got to the right hotel we checked in and went to have a bit of a walk around to explore the area. For Zubee, it felt like a mini holiday because she has not had the opportunity to go out of London much and to see some of the well-known shopping centres and restaurants in Birmingham. Event day had arrived, we took an Uber to the event venue, which was not very far and went straight to the reception area located on the 4th floor to get our name badge and were then taken into the hall to our reserved seats towards the front of the stage.
Event Day Highlights And What Went On
It was a real privilege to be among so many amazing businesses in the network from former and new winners. The event was opened on the main stage by guest speaker, Kypros Kyprianou, CEO of Theo Paphitis Group, followed by the creator of SBS himself, Theo Paphitis. It was amazing to hear him speak and how he started SBS, to it becoming a large community supporting small businesses. He said it’s all about planning for the week ahead and it was on a Sunday that he was sitting in Mrs Paphitis’s kitchen thinking how he could help entrepreneurs and small businesses because he knows how lonely the entrepreneurial journey can be. It was back in October 2010, that he created SBS, this being the 11th event, which has since grown with 4000 plus Small Business Sunday winners.
It was interesting to hear some of the stats from Theo, on the winners with 80% being female and 53% sole traders. It was a very motivating and inspiring event with a lot to take away from the day with expert advice sessions from the SBS partners and sponsors with breakout presentations throughout the day. The room was full of so much positive energy. There were many highlights from the event some of which were, hearing from Theo himself, a former SBS winner who turned an idea into a £1 million business, the Natwest panel of entrepreneurs talking about their journeys into entrepreneurship and business success to meeting with Theo and having our photo taken while being presented with our award.
Special Fireside Chat Guest Stacey Solomon
Finally, Theo welcomed Stacey Solomon to the stage for a fireside chat, followed by a Q&A. It was wonderful to hear about her journey from X Factor, presenting on TV, becoming an influencer with 6 million followers, to investing in her very first business, and what it means to her to support small businesses. It was the first time that the winners were so touched by a guest that Theo had to try and take control as she was getting side tracked during the Q&A, and some of the winners were getting very emotional while speaking to Stacey, and even giving her presents. She got off the stage and allowed the winners to take photos with her. It just showed how much Stacey's words meant to the winners.
You can read our article in the latest issue of Business Connect Magazine, which also features an interview with Theo about #SBS in the Press and Media section of our website. It was great to meet with the Business Connect team in person and to see our article in print at the event.
We would like to thank Theo for choosing and awarding Access My Events, to be part of this amazing network and we look forward to attending again next year.😊
If you are a business that would like to be in with a chance of winning, follow the link to our SBS Winners Blog to find out what it meant to us to be chosen as a winner and how you can enter for free. To see images from the event, go to the gallery page of our website.
Small Business Sunday Event 2024
23rd February 2024 ICC Birmingham
All Small Business Sunday winners get an invite to an annual event that is organised by Theo Paphitis and his team. It's an amazing opportunity to meet and network with like-minded business owners and get expert advice from the SBS partners and sponsors.
It was a real privilege for us to attend our very first #SBS event at the ICC in Birmingham on the 23rd of February. As a winner of SBS, we got the opportunity to meet with Theo and have a professional photo taken while being presented with our award. Below are some photos from the event.
Have a read of our blog about our SBS win and what it meant to us when it was announced that we were a winner, and how you can enter for free.
Overcoming Barriers To Being Awarded An MBE
17 February 2024
In the latest episode of My Voice Podcast, our founder and host Zubee speaks to her friend, Isaac Harvey MBE about his education, growing up with a disability, the challenges he faced, and how he overcame some of those challenges to achieve many amazing things, including carrying the Olympic torch to being awarded an MBE.
👉Listen now on Spotify Overcoming Barriers To Being Awarded An MBE
If you would like to be a guest on the show or would like a transcript of the recording, please email us at myvoicepodcast1@gmail.com
You can follow Isaac on LinkedIn
Lilac Review UK Launch Event
1st February 2024 at Lloyds Banking Group
We were excited to be invited to the launch of the Lilac Review by Small Business Britain and hosted by Lloyds Banking Group. This is a 2 year programme, which aims to break down barriers for disabled entrepreneurs in business. We heard a presentation about the review by Lloyds Banking Group and then from the Minister, followed by a panel discussion with 3 disabled founders led by, Michelle Ovens, Founder of Small Business Britain.
To learn more and get involved, follow the link The Lilac Review
Access My Events Speaks To My Voice Podcast Co Host On Modelling For The First Time
23rd December 2023
Listen on Spotify: Access My Events on modelling for the first time
National Asian Wedding Show Featured Disabled Model On The Catwalk For The First Time
1st December 2023
The Platinum Group, part of the National Asian Wedding Show made history by featuring a disabled model on the catwalk for the first time, and for our founder, Zubee it was a real privilege to be a part of that.
Zubee shares what the National Asian Wedding is about and what it meant to her to be part of the show. As someone who hasn't modelled before, Zubee was excited to be involved, representing disability on the catwalk and raising awareness in the fashion industry.
Zubee hopes her participation will encourage other event companies to consider making their events accessible and inclusive to deaf and disabled people and lead the way in making a change in the fashion world. We would love to see other event companies follow them and have disability represented in their shows.
The National Asian Wedding Show is Europe’s largest Asian wedding exhibition that takes place every year at different locations, held nationally. The show returned for it’s 18th year on Sunday the 26th of November 2023, at the Novotel London West, Hammersmith. This was an event not to be missed!
The show had a large number of wedding exhibitors and suppliers showcasing their products and services with inspirational ideas, to help you make your special day memorable. Alongside that, the event hosted a stunning catwalk show that featured the latest in Asian fashion trends.
It was a real privilege for Zubee to be the first disabled person to model in an Asian Wedding catwalk show, to represent disability in the fashion industry and to raise awareness. This was a huge step for the organisers to include a disabled model. To prepare for the big day, we attended rehearsals and outfit fittings on Friday 24th November. It was great for us to meet with the team and to see the work that goes on in front and behind the scenes.
For Zubee the fit and length of a garment can be tricky when looking for something to wear, whether that’s in Western or Asian clothes and she knows sourcing a suitable outfit was going to be a challenge for Manny's team as it was their first time having a disabled person model. With bridal wear especially, garments tend to be very long and a lot of designers don't cater for disabled people but Zubee was excited to see what the team had come up with for her specific needs and requirements. When she heard that they had managed to source her an outfit she couldn’t wait to see it and try it on. Zubee said, "I have always wanted to wear a bridal outfit just to see what it would look like and I never thought it would be possible because of how long and big they are."
Zubee loved the experience of being able to model for the first time even though she was nervous because she didn’t know how the audience would react but once she was out on the runway, the sound of the audience applause, the lighting and the cameras down the catwalk just made Zubee feel amazing and she couldn’t believe she was modelling in a designer’s wedding outfit. Zubee would like to thank Reena, the designer of the outfit she wore and giving her the opportunity to walk for Pannaz Boutique.
We feel the show has led the way to making a change in the fashion industry and getting conversations going as we’ve seen by the reactions and comments across our social media. Zubee would like to say a huge thank you to Manny and his wonderful team for giving us this amazing opportunity and for their help and support in making her look and feel amazing. Zubee said, "I don't usually like to put makeup on unless it's necessary and going down the catwalk with my hair and make-up done was out of my comfort zone because I'm very self-conscious, but doing this gave me a boost in my confidence."
Zubee wore a beautifully styled red blouse and skirt (Lengha) with golden embroidery and a matching scarf (dupatta). The skirt Zubee wore had to be pinned up quite a lot from the bottom so she was able to walk in it comfortably and not trip over as it was a bit heavy and she was worried it wouldn’t work. The dupatta also had to be pinned up in a way to make it easy for her. The team did a really good job in making sure it worked for Zubee on her crutches.
Outfit by Pannaz Botique
Hair and Makeup by Geet Soni Academy
Jewellery by Aartist Jewellery
Styled by Mirza Miah & Shiv Rura
Photography by ELREM Foundation
As organisers of one of the most anticipated Asian wedding shows in the UK, Platinum Group took a ground-breaking step towards inclusivity in the fashion world. In a move that underscores our commitment to celebrating diversity, we are thrilled to have had the opportunity to work with Access My Events founder, Zubee Kibria who walked the catwalk at The National Asian Wedding Show on Sunday 26th November at Novotel London West, Hammersmith.
The fashion industry has long been associated with conventional standards of beauty, but we believe it’s time for a change. By featuring disabled models, we are making a statement that beauty transcends physical abilities and that everyone deserves to feel glamorous and confident. We want to redefine beauty standards and challenge preconceived notions.
Our decision to include a disabled model on the catwalk is not merely about making a statement; it’s about genuine representation. We firmly believe that everyone should be able to see themselves in the fashion world, and this move is a step towards making that vision a reality, Manny, Founder of the Platinum Group.
After the show, it was lovely to hear a compliment from a member of the public and to see so many more lovely comments on social media, which Zubee has been really touched by, with some making her a bit emotional just reading them. We have included a few of them below.
We were super proud to be a part of history being created. A huge congratulations to Manny and the team at Platinum Group for pushing the boundaries by showcasing a disabled model on the fashion runway. We are proud sponsors of Europe's largest Asian Wedding Show.
Game changing moment for the industry – well done for leading the way.
Love this! Amazing work and also such a beautiful model
What is the name of the model? She’s gorgeous and should be tagged and celebrated!
Wow! What a heartwarming moment to witness she’s beautiful from the inside and out, giving a chance to all women to showcase their beauty on the runway, is truly inspiring.
My eyes filled up as she was passing the stage.
Amazing motivation for a lot of us. Thank you for breaking these barriers and giving people like us hope and not to give up.
Love this. We need more of it!
Love this. Thank you for breaking down norms and bringing in diversity in this industry which has been neglected for the longest time ever.
Zubee said, "I can't help but feel like a celebrity after all the attention the posts shared have been getting on social media and the level of engagement and awareness getting out there." 😃
If you are a company interested in making your events accessible, please get in touch with us to find out more!
To see some more photos and videos from the show, please go to the gallery section of our website and visit our Instagram page.
We are already looking forward to next year’s show. To find out more about their upcoming events, please visit the National Asian Wedding Show Website.