The link will take you to the Skiddle website where you can make your purchase – and get a nice cosy glow in the knowledge that you are helping GAMA!

Meadowlands 27 – 29th May

A small happy little festival in the Sussex countryside. They are in their third year and GAMA is hoping to support and advise them with their website information and compliance on site.

Sunrise Celebration 2nd – 5th June, Somerset.

GAMA has been working with Sunrise for about five years now, and each year we are aware of things we want to get better. Sunrise are committed to compliance, and we are supporting them in a site-wide approach. We are having a GAMA field as usual; at sunrise, and we are working with traders, the venues and the organisers to increase accessibility in every aspect of the festival. We are running a GAMA information line and have already had quite a few enquiries. Last year Sunrise helped out a lot of GAMA people by accepting “swaps” on tickets from the Big Green Gathering cancelled from the year before.

Glastonbury 22 – 26 June, Somerset.

We are hoping to continue working with Glastonbury and meeting with them to support their disabled provisions on site. Last year they introduced a showcase afternoon for performers with disabilities on the Continental Drifts stage. We are proposing that one of the GAMA team do a photo/story and interviews of accessibility on site.

Glade 10 – 12 June.

We understand that the Glade Festival has new dates, and a new site. We are waiting to hear back from the organisers. The important thing for us is that if the Glade is back on form after the unfortunate cancellation last year, then if it has different people running it, they need to be aware of the GAMA facilities that are normally provided on site, and of how well Seagh and Mike run the GAMA area. Seagh and Mike have provided flexibility and support throughout the previous years for the Glade, and each year the area has got larger and more appreciated.

Green Gathering 2011 27 – 31 July, Berkshire

The Green Gathering is a small gathering, up to 5000 people, with having fun, green education and ecological principles at its core, for the end of July. We have been asked to run a GAMA field on site, which we are happy to do. The organisers are also keen to support and push for site wide compliance for all its stalls, cafes and venues. The site is flat and easily serviceable and we are hoping that it will be a great new green success! If you would like to buy tickets or look at their site, here’s the link: www.greengathering2011.com

Brighton Pride 13th August

Brighton Pride seems to have become a victim of its own success. Last year the Park was packed, and most of the facilities got swamped (in the case of the wide access toilets – literally!) GAMA has been asked to take on the stewarding of the wide access loos. There are also proposals to cordon off the Pride area, and charge for entry, so there are issues we are a GAMA group will need to consider before making any definite plans with Pride. We would like to be able to support Pride in Brighton and help them provide good access for everybody.

Out of the Ordinary 23 – 25 September, Sussex.

We hope to be well involved again for the Out of The Ordinary Festival. This has become a GAMA favourite for many people in the local area.

Alchemy Festival 16 – 18 September, Lincolnshire.

We are waiting to hear what is happening with this one.

That’s all for now – as the season progresses I am sure we will get more information to share. If any one out there wants more information, advice on compliance, and other access and festival/outdoor event information, do contact us.

We are here to receive as well as give information, and the more we can do, and campaign for, the more between us we can achieve. Photos, stories, anecdotes, questions and answers – all welcome.

In date of event order, we are now involved in the following:

Sunrise Festival – 3rd / 6th June 2010

GAMA has been confirmed to run the green access area on site, and we are involved in all the planning and logistics. Jos, Penny and Jane all attended the site visit and planning meeting last weekend, which was very positive. The GAMA area during the festival will be run by Miki and Penny, and their dedicated crew.

Sunrise very kindly agreed to offer a “ticket swap” for those who bought GAMA tickets for last years Big Green Gathering, which did not take place. This scheme is now drawing to a close, and hopefully all those that wanted to swap, have done so. This is being administered by Jos and all those that responded will be hearing from Jos in the next few weeks. This scheme was put into place for just the GAMA tickets, and does not include any other tickets. For any further information regarding general BGG tickets, look on the BGG website.

Glastonbury Festival – 23rd / 27th June 2010

GAMA has been involved in feedback from last year, and Miki sent in a resume of comments for their planning meeting for this year. The disabled facilities at Glastonbury are constantly being extended and increased, and GAMA hope to continue being involved in all aspects of this work. We are happy to continue liaising with the Festival’s own support staff, and hope to be a positive and vibrant part of future developments.

Glade Festival – 15th / 18th July 2010

Seagh and Mike are cracking on with organising the Glade festival disabled access. This will be the second year on the very successful new site at Matterley Bowl, near Winchester, so this year we know more of what to expect. They are planning a slightly larger team this year and have started liaising with the Glade organisers to bring about the best camping facilities within this incredible dance festival.

Croydon Mela and World Party – Saturday 31st July, 2010

The world party is taking place on Saturday 31st July, and the Croydon Mela on the Sunday 1st August, both in Lloyd Park. Jos is working on a new venture with the organisation Green Stewards to train up the stewards in Access support and information. We have put together a training package which will provide practical advice, an outline of the legal obligations, support inclusivity, and give confidence to the stewards to help all the public.

Shambala Festival – 27th / 30th August 2010

The report we got from last year’s Shambala was that the Access area was their busiest one yet – this year Jos has started having discussions with the organiser and we hope to continue supporting the area in what ever way we can.

Out of the Ordinary Festival – 17th / 19th September 2010

Miki and Penny have started thinking and planning for this years Out of the Ordinary, a charming little festival held in the Sussex Downs. Each year the festival takes on more eco planning and conscious thinking, encouraging zero waste and only functioning on green power and eco products.

So that’s where we are so far – If there are any other festivals that you would like us to get involved with, or any campaigns we can do, please let us know. As we get further involved during the season we will update this regularly. Similarly, if you want to be more involved with GAMA, sign up to the email newsletter, follow us on twitter, or just contact us.

The ticket swap to Sunrise 2010 is now closed & finished. The Big Green Gathering website has a new available offer for ticket swaps to the “Green Phoenix Festival”, 19th – 22nd August 2010, and we will be supporting a GAMA field there.  There will shortly be instructions on the Big Green Gathering website as to how to process and swap tickets for the Green Phoenix Festival.

UPDATE:

GAMA has had negotiations with the Green Phoenix Festival, 19th – 22nd August 2010, near Newcastle, ( www.greenphoenixfestival.org.uk )   and is pleased to announce that they will accept GAMA tickets from last years cancelled Big Green Gathering for their GAMA area.  THE TICKETS WE ARE DEALING WITH HERE ARE ONLY THE BGG 2009 GAMA TICKETS – FOR ALL OTHERS GO DIRECTLY THROUGH THE GREEN PHOENIX WEBSITE AND CONTACT ADDRESS.

Conditions:

• This can only be done if you have not already used your tickets to swap to any other festival.
• That you have proof of purchase of BGG 2009 GAMA tickets.
• This offer will close at the end of June 2010.
• To be involved in this offer, please contact  joscolover@btinternet.com by email ONLY, and give us your name and address, any ticket details you have from your purchase of tickets for the BGG, and a contact phone number.
• Green Phoenix is also doing a reduction, so if you want to buy more tickets direct from them, they are offering a 10% discount for those that bought BGG 2009 GAMA tickets.
• If you want to buy more tickets for your friends and family for the Green Phoenix Festival, then go directly to their website.

All the GAMA crew camp in the same field as our visitors. It is usually used for sheep. Some of us worked in the set-up crew, spending several days building and decorating our facilities before the festival opened. Most of the rest of us work shifts. This morning the mist is clearing and the sun is out after a rainy night. The swifts are diving around our heads chasing insects.

I am on the early shift with Paul and Sue, starting at 8.30am. We tidy the marquee, set up the coffee bar, and sort out what needs to be done. Some people collect their electric wheelchairs which have been charging overnight.

Sue will watch the gate for new visitors arriving and ask them to wait until I can help them to park and find a pitch. She also helps people who need a lift on a rickshaw bike. This afternoon there will be horse-drawn transport but now the horses need to rest and graze.

Paul is running the coffee bar and information table in the marquee.

I go on a walkabout to check the recycling bins, taps, toilets, fire lanes, paths and fences, greet visitors and answer questions. As it rained last night I want to make sure no one has a flooded tent or wet bedding. Penny, GAMA assistant co-ordinator, helps us out and uses a radio to report any problems we cannot sort out ourselves. She asks for a load of woodchip to fill a muddy puddle in the main gateway. Miki, our co-ordinator, will be around this afternoon with the next crew shift. He joins us for a cup of tea in the marquee.

I meet a couple of visitors near the water tap. They arrived late yesterday evening and we helped them to pitch their tent. I ask if their children would like to join in the morning activities in the marquee. Dad will keep an eye on their son, meet other parents and look at the programme while Mum takes their daughter for a shower. She was pleased to find that one of the showers has a ramp and extra space.

A man asks me about first aid as he had a small burn from boiling water. He had used cold water on the burn right away but wanted advice. I told him the Red Cross are on duty night and day in the barn nearby. He is on his own and has a small tent. I asked if he would like to come to our marquee coffee bar for hot drinks so that he can sit at a table.

I look out for people arriving so that I can explain where they can park and remind them that no fires are allowed in the camping area. This is because of the number of vehicles, gas bottles and vulnerable people in the GAMA area. Any fire that got out of control would mean evacuating the whole field. We have a communal campfire on the green near the marquee. People with disabilities who want a fire can camp elsewhere and still use GAMA facilities.

The toilet cleaning crew arrived. We have three blocks of toilets each with at least one wide-access cubicle as well as standard ones so that people do not have far to walk. We also have a changing tent for people who need a clean private space for personal care.

There is a tipi for healers as the BGG healing area is quite a long walk from GAMA.

A horse-drawn wagon staffed by “milkmaids” in costume brings round milk, cheese, jam and chutney from local farms. The Food and Farming area which has a café and a bar as well as exhibitions and stalls is in the next field.

Most of our visitors are well-organised and accompanied by friends and relatives, but sometimes people have been let down by carers at the last minute, or do not realise that camping can be more tiring than managing at home. Carers who have done most of the packing and driving can be exhausted at the end of the first day.

Fortunately BGG is a five-day event so people can pace themselves and still do everything they want to.

Back in the marquee Jayne and her helpers are running a costume-making workshop using recycled materials from a Bristol scrap scheme. Paul is handing out maps and leaflets and selling programmes. The coffee bar must be staffed at all times to make sure children do not play near or under the urn and wheelchair-charging area.

At the end of the shift we hand over to the next crew and go for lunch in the crew canteen. This afternoon I am planning to look round the craft field and have a go at wood-turning. Tonight I am going to see a band playing in the Croissant Neuf tent, the largest venue at BGG. One of our crew will be working there with the entertainments stewards to check that people with disabilities are able to choose whether they want to be in the middle of the crown, at the front or on a viewing platform. Miki has arranged for a couple of Brighton bands to play in the GAMA marquee and I will probably stay up late with GAMA crew and visitors chatting around the campfire. I am on a late shift tomorrow so can have a lie-in in the morning.

Geofest is a small unincorporated association that was set up in 2004 to promote activities and facilities for teenagers, those excluded from the mainstream of society and those with disabilities to come and enjoy outdoor gatherings and festivals, particularly those with an ecological and “green” bias to their work. By 2005 it was clear that we needed to develop the disability support side of the work, as we were getting more and more enquiries. The first supported area we ran was at the Big Green Gathering in 2005 – and within a few hours the field had been named by its volunteer crew as GAMA – Green Access and Mobility Area. From these beginnings our work has grown and developed, strongly influenced by the suggestions and experiences of our visitors.

What GAMA does:

We promote inclusion, not separation.  GAMA areas are a positive, artistic and creative part of the festival community. We provide the facilities and support for those with disabilities to be able to integrate fully within the festival experience. We generally have set up a dedicated GAMA area within a festival site, but which can be used by all on site who need the facilities it provides. We have extended our work to promoting awareness and practical changes in all areas of festivals where we work.  These include cafes, campaigns, stalls, performance venues, workshops, and activities for children. GAMA is ecologically and environmentally aware – sustainability and “green” issues are at our core.  GAMA has a commitment to the environment to encourage zero wastage, recycling, energy conservation and sustainability.   GAMA takes note of the Legal duties of festival organisers and sub-contractors.  All events in the UK are now covered by the Disability Discrimination Act, 1995 (DDA) which requires “reasonable adjustments” to be made to provide access.  Local authorities also now have a legal duty to promote the inclusion of people with disabilities – this has implications for the licensing of events.

Who we work with:

Festival Organisers – We will work with any outdoor gathering or festival as long as it shows a true commitment to improving access.   Ideally we are involved with the organisers from the initial planning and licence application stages, and will see it through to the conclusion.   We can provide information for festival organisers on essential equipment, such as wide access showers, toilets and washing facilities for crew and visitors.   We can work with the festival planners to help them understand the unavoidable geography of the site, its physical features and help provide safe routes for all.     We also encourage festival organisers to put clear and the most useful information in all their publicity, so people with disabilities can properly prepare for the event.  Ideally we are involved and consulted about all aspects of the event including leaflets, website, tickets and concessions, siting of GAMA field, transport, parking, emergency planning, and safety.     A commitment to site wide access means that each person responsible for managing an area or service should incorporate the needs of people with disabilities into their plans, publicity and crew briefings.  We can help with this. We can advise festivals on their approach to people with disabilities- e.g. helping cafes, venues, stalls, and event areas make their setups more inclusive. We can run training sessions for site managers, stewards, stallholders and venue operators.   GAMA can, by arrangement, provide an information phone line and email for those with further enquiries about the ticketing and facilities at the festival.     Festival crew, visitors and artists – GAMA welcomes all visitors, crew, performers and artists who would benefit from our services, their families, friends and carers.    GAMA provides a crew of trained and experienced volunteer staff to assist people in the GAMA area and in other parts of the festival (such as beside viewing platforms as necessary).  We recruit trained signers for workshop, speaker’s forums, etc.   By talking through on the information line beforehand any specific medical or support needs of visitors, we can ensure that the right equipment and facilities are available.    

Who we do not work with:

We believe that nobody should have to tolerate harassment, bullying, racism or other forms of discrimination.  We will support any of our visitors of crew to report incidents and expect firm action to be taken by the festival organisers. GAMA does NOT provide personal or medical care for its visitors.  We expect festival organisers to plan on site and emergency medical services. We do not hire out or lend equipment such as wheelchairs. Child protection issues will not be dealt with – these will be passed to welfare and the child protection officers on site. We do not offer on site childcare.  Children need to be well supervised at all times by their own family or on site support networks.   GAMA will use and expect a positive response from the other on site services such as Welfare, Medical, and First Aid. Lost Kids, Security etc.  Some children/adults do have ADHA, [attention deficit/ hyperactivity] autism and Aspergers.  The onus of responsibility must be on their parents/carers.  For children and adults who are especially vulnerable we recommend that two parents/ carers accompany them.   Mental health is not an access need. For some people whose disability does not limit their mobility a designated quiet camping or family area may be more suitable.

What we have achieved so far:

We have been running for three years, and each year we are growing.   We have had in excess of 1000 people and their families’ camp with us, and thoroughly enjoy the experience.  Because we provide a unique service both our visitors and the festival organisers respond very positively.  We have enabled many people with disabilities to fully participate in festival life, in a way that they were not able to do so before GAMA arrived on the scene.

What we want to achieve:

1.  A safe and supportive GAMA field and community within every festival in the UK.   GAMA should be looked upon as a professional consultancy service, as well as a pragmatic and fun practical organisation.
2. A year round interactive GAMA website community that is made up of GAMA visitors, festival organisers, artists, and festival workers who see how important our work is.
3. A bank of information packs and leaflets for festivals and outdoor events; and a resource of trained and experienced GAMA workers who can continue to advise improvements.
4. A continual training and support network for festival crews, GAMA stewards and support staff.
5. A campaigning arm of the organisation that can continue to press for improved access facilities at festivals.
6. To be economically sustainable and self-financing.

Standards:

We work towards “best practice” in all of our work.   All our crew have experience in working with disabilities.  We have a programme of ongoing training, support and supervision for all of our team.  We encourage the learning of new skills and support our volunteers in taking up further training and more responsibility within their roles.

The Act lays down a statutory responsibility to organisers to make “reasonable adjustments” so that any festival/outdoor gathering must now consider not just the provision of an area for people with disabilities to camp in, but accessibility for everyone over the whole site.

GAMA is made up of a group of people who have attended festivals for many years; and we have built up a knowledge of working in festival situations with people with disabilities. Because of the specific outdoor nature of festivals, the needs of disabled people have often been overlooked, and, in reality, can be challenging to provide for.

GAMA was set up in 2005 under the umbrella of “GEOFEST”, to promote and support facilities for disabled people on Festival Sites and outdoor gatherings. The first area we ran was at the big Green Gathering 2005. The Volunteer Crew which by this time had been named the Green Access Mobility Area (GAMA), as everyone wanted to get away from the connotations of the “Disabled Field”; arrived on site and began to create a welcoming space within the Festival.

Since then we have been involved with setting up and running many GAMA areas including:

• The Big Green Gathering 2005, 2006, and 2007.
• Sunrise Festival 2007 and 2008.

We are involved with the Rocket Festival in Spain, the Glade Festival, Croissant Neuf Summer Party, Out of The Ordinary Festival, and Glastonbury Festival.

• We have written articles for Festival Eye Magazine, and Green Futures Festivals website.
• We provide training and support, advice and consultation to other festivals.
• We have a team of trained and CRB checked volunteers.
• We have run training sessions for our own crew, and also for stewards and festival organisers.
• We can produce leaflets for stall holders, venues and other festival areas to help them provide good disability access for all.
• We work with both visitors to festivals and performers, artists, workshop leaders.
• We can provide a helpline and consultation right through the festival setting up process, from the very beginnings (including Council License procedures), through the actual event, and to the end.

We have green/environmentally aware standards and guidelines that we work within.

We can work with on site medical, welfare and other provisions to ensure the best care and correct facilities are provided for visitors and staff.

We do not offer personal care or child care.

We have a list of on site disability suppliers, such as showers, and suitable wheelchair providers. And a list of skilled volunteers who can add to the festival experience, eg signers.

We provide a welcoming, safe, informal, flexible, inclusive area with facilities that can be used by all on site that need them.

GAMA has grown each year – from small beginnings our work is being recognised and sought after. We can vary the size of the provision according to the demand; and we can adapt our work to specific festival requirements or to specialist areas, such as healing spaces or performance spaces.

Our work is unique. We have received positive comments, accolades and wonderful support. We carry out feedback and response sessions wherever possible. We have linked with other organisations to encourage and support disabled access, such as Attitude is Everything, and the National Outdoor Event Association.

We can help campaign for better access provision at festivals in the UK and beyond.

We can advise Festival websites on how to improve their accessibility.

We have been awarded grants from Awards for All and The Travellers Aid Trust, and UnLtd development money.

This website is the culmination of the development of GAMA. We aim to provide through this website all the information necessary to help those with disabilities make informed decisions about what festivals they choose to go to, and what they should expect to find when they get there. We aim to provide a discussion forum and information exchange, a training section, a campaigning branch, and an on-line community and regular updates as to what is happening for disabled people in the UK festival scene.

Many thanks to UnLtd for making this possible.