We provide areas that can support people with disabilities, along with their families and carers; alongside practical advice and training to stewards (which is crucial) in providing this service. In conjunction with festival organisers and a site visit we can also help advise on mobility across festival sites.
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.
We provide areas that can support people with disabilities, along with their families and carers; alongside practical advice and training to stewards (which is crucial) in providing this service. In conjunction with festival organisers and a site visit we can also help advise on mobility across festival sites.
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:
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 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.