ASSISTED ACCESS

ASSISTED ACCESS

The Green Gathering has an Assisted Access area located on a flat part of the site close to the main track, plus Assisted Access services run by a fabulous crew. We've expanded this popular area by a third in recent years!

A welcome tent, accessible toilets and shower, communal campfire (conditions permitting) and friendly helpful faces are found here.

The crew will do their best to facilitate everyone’s access to entertainment and services.

As a non-commercial festival with a small team we do have limited capacity, so please contact us between February 1st and June 30th to give us the best chance to provide what you need. We always do our best but It may not be possible to arrange space or services to meet all of your needs if you contact us after June 30th.

New for 2024: We'll have a wheelchair accessible sauna. Please be aware chairs must be suitable for hot and damp conditions, and there's space for just one wheelchair at a time (plus several people on benches) . Feedback welcome, this will be a first!

TO USE THE ASSISTED ACCESS AREA OR SERVICES…

Please buy your tickets and vehicle passes through our Ticket Shop.

Then, contact us if you’d like to book any of these:
- a space in the Assisted Access area for your tent or campervan
- solar powered charging for a wheelchair
- BSL communication support
- a vehicle pass to enable you to drive to the Assisted Access area
- a ticket for a personal assistant

You can contact us by email between Feb 1st and June 30th.
Email Assisted Access coordinator Carole on access@greengathering.org.uk
- we aim to respond within three days, but may take a little longer when volume of applications is high (or when Carole takes a well-earned holiday).

All bookings must be completed by June 30th.
As a small festival with no outside funding, we have limited space and resources. If you let us know what you need before June 30th, we will do our best to work out how to provide it. If you don’t let us know by this date, we’re sorry we cannot guarantee we’ll have the resources to meet your needs.

DEAF ACCESS

BSL communication support is available. Each year we aim to expand provision. In previous years we’ve had hearing loops in our Box Offices, Speakers’ Forum and Soundscape Solar Stage.

MOBILITY INFO & ASSISTANCE

The site has one flat, surfaced track. Two music venues, the Speakers’ Forum, Raconteurs’ Delight stage, market stalls, bars, information tent, medical tent, welfare assistance and a number of food stalls and workshops are on or very close to this track.

Access to other areas of the festival may become muddy in wet weather; some areas and venues involve travelling a distance on sloping ground.

The Assisted Access crew have use of two shuttle buggies to assist people with reduced mobility to get around the site. One of these buggies will be wheelchair-accessible.

For people bringing an electric wheelchair or mobility scooter, we have a charging station. Be aware that for safety reasons we can only charge appliances that have a current PAT (electrical safety) certificate.

Please arrive with your chair fully charged and be prepared to do some charging during daylight hours, as our solar power providers struggle to charge batteries from flat, and can’t charge everyone overnight. If you have a spare battery, please arrive with that fully charged too!

OUR ‘SERENPOD’ SAFE SPACE

The Serenpod is a small, autism-friendly safe haven for when sensory overload hits. A quiet retreat equipped with comfy cushions, laptop charging point and upcycled sensory items for use by people with lived experience of autism or neurodiversity in need of a bit of peace and quiet on site.  It is available on a ‘first come, first served’ basis

The Serenpod has moved to a quieter location, just downhill from our Floating Lotus venue. Please ask in the Info Exchange tent for directions if you might want to use the Serenpod and haven't spotted it.

TICKETS & PASSES

Buy your ticket and your car or campervan pass from our Ticket Shop first, then apply for any PA tickets or Assisted Access area parking or delivery passes you need.

PA TICKETS:
A free PA Ticket is available if you are in receipt of higher rate DLA/PIP or equivalent, and are aged 13 or over.
People with access needs who are not in receipt of high rate DLA/PIP may be able to bring a PA free of charge at Directors’ discretion. People who are deaf or hard of hearing may apply for a Communication PA ticket and will be assessed individually.

VEHICLE PASSES:
Assisted Access vehicle passes are free of charge, but...
these passes can only be used to supplement a paid-for carpark or paid-for campervan pass.

There are two types of Assisted Access vehicle pass:

1) Assisted Access Essential Onsite Parking.
We have very limited space so this is restricted to those who really need it, including:
Campervan pass holders who are camping in the Assisted Access area.
Carpark pass holders with a genuine medical or disability need for their cars to be kept onsite.

2) ‘Drop off’ Car Passes. For Assisted Access customers who have bought a carpark pass, who need to drive to the Assisted Access area to deliver camping gear or people before parking in the carpark. Once parked, transport back to the Assisted Access area by buggy or 4x4 will be available.

Please buy tickets and vehicle passes through our Ticket Shop, then apply for your PA ticket or Assisted Access vehicle pass by email to access@greengathering.org.uk, including your ticket reference number and proof of your access need.

Applications should be made between February 1st and June 30th.

SATISFIED CUSTOMERS

“Massive praise to the Assisted Access area… I have been to quite a few festivals over the years and never felt as much a part of the festival as I do at The Green Gathering. Assisted Access at GG offers more than just an accessible camping area, safety and security; it also offers inclusion to all, friendship and acceptance. A massive thanks to all the Assisted Access crew… I don’t even have any suggestions for improvement because everything in my opinion is perfect.” – Rob
“I must thank you for finding me the perfect ‘safe’ place to be… that means so much to us. There aren’t many festivals I feel comfortable at, in fact yours is now the only one on my list!” – Johnny