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“Nothing About Us Without Us”

Belfast City Council want to speak with groups of Disabled People/PWD creating and/or attending Cultural, Arts and Music Events in Belfast.

Belfast City Council are in the process of developing options for a new approach to long-term cultural development in the city and a new Cultural Strategy for the city 2020 - 2030. We value your voice and seek contribution from people living and working in this city to collectively develop an authentic narrative for Belfast. As part of this process we are running a series of Focused Discussions on Disability & Accessibility to feed into this new strategy.

All of our chosen venues are wheelchair accessible, with accessible bathrooms and staff available to assist. BSL interpreters and Braille/Audio versions of any text will are available at the sessions on request. Please feel free to bring your Personal Assistant/Support Worker/Next of Kin (family, friend or spouse who helps facilitate your access) along to this discussion by selecting an additional ticket labelled "Attendee (Personal Assistant/Support). For those with multiple disability identities, please select the sessions that you feel most closely match you, and feel free to send us an email at belfast2023@belfastcity.gov.uk to let us know of your additional identities.

We bear in mind the cultural and personal experiences of all those who choose, for valid reasons, not to categorise themselves into groups. Our targeted conversations are to ensure that the specific access needs of people working in and attending Cultural Arts and Music events are heard so that we are not missing voices in the conversation in uncategorised conversation due to a feeling of ‘less than’ or ‘not as valid as my peers needs’ with regards to their own experiences, needs and personal concerns about their Identity, Disability or Access requirements However, if you do not wish to label yourself by any of the above category but are interested in engaging with the discussion, be assured that we understand and want to gather your important feedback on Accessibility in these discussions. Please feel welcome to join us at the “Identities, Disability and Access” session on the .

ACCESS INFORMATION:

Belfast City Council have consulted and are working closely with an advisory group and facilitation group of Disabled People/PWD to ensure these discussions are planned and facilitated by people who self-identify as Disabled/PWD to maximise the ability for empathetic and strategic discussion surrounding the subject of Accessibility in Culture, Arts and Music.

Disabled People/PWD attending and/or creating Cultural, Arts and Music events in Belfast are well aware of the existing issues and potential improvements that can be made to Accessibility, and in order for these discussions to be meaningful, engaging the advice and facilitation of those experiencing the topics that we will cover in these discussions is of the utmost importance to ensure genuine understanding and a collaborative redesign of Accessibility in Belfast moving forward.

If you have any issues accessing this form online, you can email us at belfast2023@belfastcity.gov.uk to sign up. Please include your Name, Dietary, and Access Requirements and let us know which session you would like to attend.

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Privacy Notice

Belfast City Council is the Data Controller under the General Data Protection Regulation for the personal data gathered for the advertised focus group sessions.

By attending a session, you may be asked to consensually provide your personal data and if you choose to do so, you are positively agreeing for the Council to hold and use it. Belfast City Council will process your personal data to enable it to administer the focus group sessions. It may be shared internally within the Council with staff who are involved in the organisation and delivery of the focus group sessions and between internal departments with the purpose of supporting an effective delivery of BCC’s service. It will not be shared or disclosed to any other person or organisation outside the Council without your consent or unless the law places an obligation on the Council to do so. The personal data is held and stored by the Council in a safe and secure manner and in compliance with Data Protection legislation and in line with the Council’s retention and disposal schedule.

If you have any queries regarding your personal data or you wish to withdraw your consent to the processing of it, please contact Mary Cowan - Telephone 028 90 500 543. If you wish to contact the Council’s Data Protection Officer, please write to Belfast City Council, City Hall, Belfast, BT1 5GS or email records@belfastcity.gov.uk