Embrace All: Swindon’s Festival For Disabled and Learning Difficulties

Envy being too strong a word, perhaps longing would fit how I felt when I saw Facebook photos of families excitedly packed in a car like they’re about to go on their holibobs, rather heading off to Glastonbury Festival instead. Festivals have trended to be family occasions, but I know a member of mine wouldn’t take to such an environment, no matter how I might enjoy them myself. It wouldn’t do for them to be squashed in like sardines, and all the goings-on would mean sensory overload.

If you identify with this conundrum, I might have found an answer. Embrace All is a fully accessible, inclusive one day festival, aimed at people with all disabilities, happening at the Bowl in Old Town Gardens, Swindon on Saturday 5th August. While many festivals cater for disabilities with varying degrees, this is the only event I’ve heard of specifically designed for such, and I have to say, what an absolutely wonderful idea.

The story behind Embrace starts with Rachael Chun and Katie Brown, who both work in social care. With them both on maternity leave back in February, they started a bi-monthly disco at the Tree nightclub in Swindon, Diverse Disco, for anyone sixteen plus with disabilities. “We’re stopping the discos for now due to the hot weather,” Katie explained, “but our next one is on the 14th of July.”

Taking this brilliant idea to the next stage, Embrace All will be the first of its kind, a festival open to everyone but tailored to adults and children with disabilities. “It’s aimed at all disabilities,” Katie continued, “but a lot of the individuals that come to our events have learning difficulties and autism.”

Creating easy access into and out of the venue and ensuring they cater for all dietary requirements. A sign language interpreter will be onsite and they have a Revolootion (a toilet with a hoist.) “We are so committed to creating a more accessible and inclusive society and we hope that this will have a really positive impact on the disabled community,” Katie expressed, “it’s so wonderful to see so much happiness and them just having fun with not a worry In the world.”

Alongside a range of DJs for a party at the end, they have an impressive lineup, including I See Orange, Here Come The Crows, Joli and the Souls, and one I think will be particularly suitable, the Sarah C. Ryan Band. Sam Swancott, HoneyFunk, Adriana’s Keys, Chloe Hepburn, Jeanette Etherington, Joshua Heather, and The Carers in Harmony also have slots.

Diverse Disco has had a number of other events ranging from Teddy Bear’s Picnics to an Abba tribute night, beach and pyjama parties. Tickets for the Embrace Festival are £15 for adults, £12 for under 18s, free for one carer, £40 for a family ticket, plus booking fees. The Embrace Festival GoFundMe page is HERE.

For more information on the Embrace Festival, and all other forthcoming events by Diverse Disco, there’s a Facebook group, HERE. Do check in with them for any questions you might have and book early as possible as spaces will be limited. As Katie expressed, “it’s not too busy either, we try to keep minimal numbers so there’s plenty of space for everyone.”

We wish the team at Diverse Disco all the very best for this and other events, I’m still in awe at what a thoughtful and genuinely wonderful idea this is!