North East music festival earns top facilities accolade

The North East’s newest music festival aimed at including gig-goers of all abilities is set to acquire a Silver accreditation by a national charity in time for its debut in August.

The Middlehaven Festival has been praised by Attitude is Everything prior to its launch on August 23, for plans outlining its accessibility including providing level boardwalks and wheelchair access, specialist toilets, hoisting and changing facilities, as well as providing a hearing loop along with a sensory ‘chill out’ area and extensive medical services on site.

The open air event in Middlesbrough is spearheaded by neuro, stroke and spinal injury care and rehabilitation specialists Keiro, which already holds the Silver accreditation by the charity for its successful annual Chase Park Festival in Gateshead.

Attitude is Everything CEO, Suzanne Bull MBE, said: “Keiro’s events and festivals to date have emulated all that we stand for. When the right facilities, policies and information are in place, live music can be opened up to the 11 million Deaf and disabled people living in the UK and transform their lives for the better, so to hold another large event of this kind in the North East is commendable.

“I am pleased to see that the Middlehaven Festival has been working hard towards gaining the Silver accreditation of the Charter.”

The announcement follows the introduction of the charity’s new campaign ‘#MusicWithoutBarriers’ which was launched this week to call on more venues and festivals to sign up to its Charter of Best Practice for providing better access to deaf and disabled music fans.

Keiro’s business relationship director, Alistair McDonald, said: “We are avid supporters of Attitude is Everything so to even be considered for the Silver accreditation before the launch of the Middlehaven Festival is fantastic.

“With our clients at The Gateway and Chase Park we are committed to ensuring that whatever community event we hold, it is accessible to everyone without barriers or limitation.

“The news that we have been earmarked for this accreditation already is testament to the dedication and hard work the team has put in to developing Middlehaven Festival and we look forward to making it the success it deserves to be.”

The open-air event is a fully accessible cultural event aimed at attracting visitors of all ages and abilities from across the region and will host over 20 bands and musicians across two stages with BRIT-award nominated chart toppers The Feeling as headlining act.

Attitude is Everything improves deaf and disabled people’s access to live music by working in partnership with audiences, artists and the music industry. The charity’s vision is that Deaf and Disabled People can be audience members, employees or artists at any live music event of their choice: music without barriers.

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