Unlimited will be delivering three strands of support for cultural organisations across West Yorkshire, thanks to support from West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

Accessibility skills training: A series of face-to-face workshops in Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds, Wakefield (with an optional online session) covering REAM – Roots, Events, Audiences, Marketing. The Roots session covers the disability equality basics and provides an introduction to the whole programme.

The Roots session will also cover:

• An introduction to the work of Unlimited
• An introduction to the WYCA accessibility programme strands
• A brief overview of the Equality Act
• An introduction to the medical and social model of disability
• Summaries of other key elements for disability equality – Nothing About Us, Without Us and #NothingForNothing
• A chance to find some easy wins
• And an introduction to Action Planning

The Eventbrite linked below is for Calderdale’s Roots session: 2pm – 4pm on 8 May 2024 at The Princess Buildings in Halifax.

Each session will be interactive, arts specific and for a maximum of 25 people (maximum 2 from any one organisation). We’ll introduce you to key concepts and live case studies and resources plus the other elements of our programme of support. Each organisation will be encouraged to develop an action plan to help increase the accessibility of what they do and how they do it.

Guidance and Support: Arts organisations across West Yorkshire will also be able to direct advice and support about access. From March 2024 we will be piloting a drop in session once a month and bookable surgery slots where people can have one to one conversations and get their questions answered. From ‘how do I reach deaf audiences’, ‘what’s a viewing platform?’ and ‘how do I find disabled artists?’ there is no such thing as a stupid question. And if we don’t know the answer, we’ll find someone for you that does. As part of this provision, we have a small grants fund to match fund organisations trying out a new element of access for the first time. To find out more – email laura@weareunlimited.org.uk

Small capital grants fund: We will also be developing a small capital grants fund, to improve long term accessibility to cultural venues – maximum grant £10,000. Information to be released in March 2024. To find out more – email joverrent@weareunlimited.org.uk

Book your place below

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