Attending Equality Network Events: Access
The Equality Network’s aim is that all events we organise will be fully accessible to everyone who wishes to attend. To assist us in achieving this, when we organise an event, please tell us what you would need to be able to attend.
Often our events are free to attend, though we ask people to register in advance: but if we have a charge for admission, and the cost of admission is a barrier, please let us know: we will always waive cost of admission for people on a low income or no income. (We ask people who can afford it to make a donation: this assists us in covering the costs of the event.)
If you need a support worker to be with you during the event, please let us know: we will provide the support worker with a free place.
This page cannot cover all access issues: if you have a query about attending an Equality Network event, please contact us.
Respect
Most Equality Network events are attended both by people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender, and by people who are not familiar with the LGBT communities in Scotland and may not be familiar with some of the words used. We provide an information sheet with some short definitions, based on our Glossary, and we ask all participants to behave respectfully and politely towards each other.
Children
We can offer help with the cost of childcare and/or family support if this would be a barrier to your coming to the conference.
Creche
We do not book a creche routinely for any of our events. If you cannot attend unless there is childcare at the venue, we need to know this well in advance.
Labour costs for a creche can be intensive. For children under the age of 1 year, one creche worker is required per child: for children over 1 but under the age of 5, one creche worker is required for every two children. If there are primary school age children attending as well as preschool children, a separate creche worker is needed for the older children.
In order to be able to engage the number of creche staff required we need to know, at least 12 working days before the date of the event:
- how many children will be there
- what their ages are
Without this information, we cannot provide a creche. Please help us, if you are attending an Equality Network event and intend to bring your children, by letting us know as soon as possible. We will also need to know your children’s food and other access needs.
Disability
Blind/Visual impairment
All Equality Network printed resources are provided in 14-point sans-serif text, in accordance with RNIB guidelines for visual impairment. If you require soft copies, Braille transcriptions, large print, or other accommodation for your vision, please let us know when you book for the event: we will always try to provide our material in a readable format. (See also: Dyslexia.)
Deaf/Hearing impairment
If you need a BSL translator, electronic notetaker, or other support to be able to take part in our events, please let us know when you book for the event: we will always try to accommodate you, but translators and notetakers need to be booked well in advance of the event: we cannot normally book unless we know that someone is attending who will make use of this support.
Dyslexia
If you need the printed resources for the event on a different colour of paper for ease of reading, please let us know when you book for the event: we will always try to provide our material in a readable format if we have time and resources to do so.
Mobility
We always book venues which are fully accessible to a wheelchair user. Where possible, we have someone from the Equality Network personally inspect the venue to confirm this. If you have specific access needs, please let us know when you book for the event.
Food
Where a meal is provided at our events, we always ensure vegetarian and vegan options are provided, and we always ask the caterers to clearly label the plates. If you have other diet needs – such as halal, wheat-free, nut allergy – please let us know when you book for the event.
We want the lunch break at our events to be a pleasant, unstressful time to network and chat with others. We find that caterers will usually be able to accommodate “special” diet options with separate plates, providing they are given a few days notice to arrange this. Please help us, if you are attending an Equality Network event, by letting us know what your diet needs are as soon as possible.
We do not serve alcohol at Equality Network events. We sometimes have a post-conference social event in the bar or at a pub. If alcohol is an issue for you, please let us know when you book.
Travel costs
If you live some distance from the place where the event is being held, and would like to attend but the cost of travelling is a barrier, please let us know when you book: we may be able to help.
If you live a long distance from the place where the event is being held, and would like to attend but the cost of overnight accommodation is a barrier, please let us know when you book: we may be able to help.
We have a small budget to cover cost of travel/accommodation for people attending our events. We may be able to put you in touch with another delegate who can give you a lift in their car, or provide other assistance. We cannot help unless you let us know!