Nominations are invited for the Blue Badge Access Awards (BBAA) which reward exceptional accessibility and inclusivity shown by venues in the hospitality, leisure, and tourism industry.
The 12 awards, ranging from Best Bar and Best Historic Building and Best Conceptual Design, will be presented in May next year. The theme is ‘Intersectionality’, highlighted by the inclusion of a new award – Best Access at LGBTQ+ Venue.
“For example, a wheelchair user may also have partial hearing, autism or also walk with a stick,” said Fiona Jarvis (pictured above), CEO of Blue Badge Style and co-founder of BBAA.
“Therefore, we’re looking for venues that have more than a just a portable ramp!”
Not every venue will be pleased to be nominated as the Ludicrous Loo and Ridiculous Ramp awards will put the spotlight firmly on those venues that are poorly designed or inaccessible.
The organisers are keen to set the gold standard for encouraging the industry to get accessibility right for a disabled person and making it stylish, thoughtful and innovative.
The spending power of disabled people and their household is estimated to be £274bn a year and a report by Purple Pound says that the UK’s pubs/restaurants are losing approximately £163m every month by ignoring the needs of disabled people.
“The Blue Badge Access Awards are about exceeding the expectations of disabled people and to give recognition to businesses and establishments that have addressed accessibility imaginatively and thoughtfully,” said Fiona.
“The very definition of hospitality is to welcome, and this is at the very heart of the BBAA.
“Unfortunately, we have seen some bad examples of accessibility. Like a ‘Ludicrous Loo’ where the chef parks his bike in the so-called ‘disabled toilet’ and uses it as a storage area.
“In addition, the ‘intersectionality’ of disability is not to be ignored. You may use a wheelchair and be neuro diverse or as highlighted to me, a wheelchair user may also be gay hence our new LGBTQ+Award.”
To find out more visit https://bluebadgeaccessawards.com/
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