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What Our Customers Say...
  • Very good day. Many thanks for all your input. You have set up a lot of future ways of working. 

    Head of Education – Spitalfields Festival

  • Everyone found the course useful and I was very impressed by the way you took the time to interview participants before the course so that you could tailor the content to our needs.

    Dominic McDonald – Head of Public Engagement, Science Oxford

  • Thank you for a most useful tailor-made session. I think all will have got something out of it. Thanks for your help.

    Louise Atkin – Palace Theatre, Mansfield

  • Trainer’s knowledge on all areas was very good. I particularly liked the fact that it was very participatory and trainer truly facilitated to a very high degree!! Well done.  

    Irene Muchunu – DFID Nairobi.

  • Mark helped me examine issues in a very helpful, imaginative and non-judgemental way – a very positive experience.

    Jonathan Williams – Composer.

  • You have established a reputation in our business for providing training that has a high impact while being very enjoyable.

    Training and Development Manager – Balfour Beatty

  • I can honestly say this training was one of the most refreshing and helpful courses I have experienced. The over-all experience left all the management team here with a hunger and enthusiasm to implement the new training and a desire to improve other areas in a similar vein.

    Vanessa Black – Managing Director, The Phone Room

  • Thanks also for your great input during the course. I really enjoyed your sessions, you really brought the issues alive. It was lovely working with you, let’s hope there is another opportunity soon.

    Faye Phillips – Manager, IMA International

  • Since your programme of two-day workshops, our team leaders and track chargemen have shown a marked improvement in their ability to make decisions and take responsibility for themselves as leaders. Their teams have become stronger, more focused and motivated.

    Geoff Warren – Training Manager, Balfour Beatty Rail

  • A very enjoyable, informative course which has given me clarity and understanding and a wide-ranging skills toolbox from which to call upon when I need it most.

    Course Participant – Science & Technology Facilities Council

  • There has been a better understanding. We are better connected and more on the same wavelength – the benefit of not being on the back foot.

    Course Participant – Southern Railway

  • The course was made light hearted so I think it is easy to take in more information. Very interesting and informative

    Course Participant – Theatre Royal, Newcastle

The Disability Toolkit (one day)

pairWhat You Need to Know about the Disability Laws?

The final part of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) came on to the statute books and became law in 2004. We find that that some Arts Venues are still not complying with the new laws – and some of those laws have been in place since 1996!

So why should you have to make all of these efforts for people with special needs?

  • The PULL Factor:

There are around 8.6 million disabled people in this country – that’s about 15% of the population. They represent a large part of your market – they have a lot of money to spend and could be spending it in your venue.

  •  The PUSH Factor

 The legal noose is tightening. Arts venues in the UK can be taken to court for failing to comply with disability legislation.

The Issue of Money

It would be lovely to throw a lot of money at disability issues to make them go away. If you had unlimited financial resources, that might be a possibility. In the real world, however, you can’t. For you, working in the arts, money will always be a key limiting factor.

The Way Forward

These are the two key steps you need to take to ensure that your venue complies with the law and offers the best possible service to people with disabilities:

  1. Identify the issues and put a long-term Action Plan in place. This will prove that you are aware of current limitations, and fully intend to address them when finances allow.
  2. Get your staff involved and motivated as a team to take ownership of the issues. We find that they can often be the best source of cost-effective and practical solutions. Moreover, if the ideas come from them, they are more likely to implement them enthusiastically.

How We can Make it Easier for You

Many arts organisations have already come to us for our Disability Toolkit. It’s a very practical, fun, interactive one-day course for you and your team that is run at your venue and tailored exactly to meet your needs.

Who is it for?

The Disability Toolkit is designed for all levels of management and staff – whether working in the box office, marketing, front of house, bars and restaurants, or stage door. It is especially useful for people from all parts of the venue to attend as it will help them support each other as part of one team.

Outcomecards

The outcome of this course will be:

  • Your organisation will be able to meet the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA)
  • Your staff will be able to proactively find ways of providing an even better service to people with disabilities

Areas Addressed

  • Looking at the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) – how does it affect you?
  • Disability is not just about blind, deaf and people in wheelchairs. What about mobility, mental health, facial disfigurements, body abnormalities and learning difficulties?
  • How do you react to someone with a disability?
  • Using words that don’t label people
  • Putting your venue under the microscope – how user-friendly is it?  (We will get you to look at your bars, restaurants, entrances, facilities, offices, auditoriums, stairs, etc. We’ll examine wheelchair access, evacuation plans, toilets, heights of counters, etc. And then we’ll look outside the venue – at pavements and parking restrictions)
  • Do your signs and written materials make sense to people with disabilities?
  • How do you talk to a customer with a disability? – what to say, and what not to say! How not to be patronising
  • What is it really like to have a disability? An opportunity to put yourself in their shoes by trying some of our gadgets – partial reality spectacles, wheelchairs, earplugs, etc.
  • How to lead a blind or partially-sighted person – an opportunity to practice with our special “dog”!
  • Making money from people with disabilities makes good business sense
  • Group and individual actions – how are you going to improve your venue and the service you offer to customers with disabilities?

How does it work?

It’s fun, practical and interactive. We use a range of well-proven, interactive training techniques, activities and visual aids.

During the day, we facilitate a session where participants actually look at each part of your venue through the eyes of a person with a disability. They are able to identify actions that can be taken to improve service to customers with disabilities. 

Each participant recieves a comprehensive pack of handouts. And it’s tailored to your needs. We do this by phoning a sample of the management and participants beforehand to find out how we can make the biggest difference for you. 

What extras are offered?

We maximise the effect of the training through giving your people some preparation work to do beforehand. During the course we get your people to commit to actions for improving the way they work. We will give you suggestions on how to keep the benefits of training alive after the course. And we provide free, unlimited follow-up and support by phone and email.

Where and when?

You decide. Most of our customers like us to organise the training at their venue at a quiet time. We don’t need a special room – quite often we train in the bar, restaurant or any other open space available. And you can let us know if an evening or weekend is more convenient.

Who leads it?

The Disability Toolkit is led by Jonathan Nash – an arts professional with many years of expertise in the area of disability.

What do people say about it?

An effective ‘un-patronising’ style that engaged the whole group

Excellent day – could not have wished for the course to have been improved in any way

Enjoyed the informal and comfortable training atmosphere

Relaxed but informative

Clear, accurate and knowledgeable

Handouts being presented in a folder ensures that they will have a permanent space in the office

 Well presented – thought provoking. Will make me think more when dealing with any situation

It made me aware of just how unaware I was about my everyday surroundings

Excellent course, most enjoyable day. I have learnt a lot to take into work and everyday life

Jonathan was a very good tutor – kept the day alive, interesting and informative. Most of all created a friendly atmosphere where we could all contribute and learn

How much is it?

It’s £800 for the day (plus VAT). Trainer’s travel and accommodation (if required) will be charged at cost. Most customers prefer to copy their own handouts, to keep costs down (we email you the masters).

Is there a way to get it cheaper?

Some of our customers are able to get a reduced rate through Train to Gain www.traintogain.gov.uk Contact your local Business Link to enquire.

How to book it?

Call us on 01865 736005 or click here to email us.