BMet helps create the first Birmingham Disability Festival in Disability Pride Month

BMet College is proud to play a key role in delivering the first Birmingham Disability Festival this Saturday 6 July at Birmingham City University (BCU), during Disability Pride Month.

Created by the Birmingham Disability Festival Committee (BDFC), the free inaugural event will showcase a wide range of disabled talent through performances, sport, interactive games and disabled business owners.

The important day has been specially designed to advance diversity, equity and inclusion in the UK’s second biggest city.

Highlights of the festival include dance performances from wheelchair based Freewheelin and Cerebral Palsy West Midlands, along with music from DJ Ben Love, who has a regular set at Birmingham’s famous The Night Owl.

Games and sports for people of all abilities will also be on offer including boccia, blind football, curling, volleyball and wheelchair basketball. RUN OF A KIND, Birmingham’s first and only Running Tour Team, will be providing a tour for blind/visually impaired runners and a disability friendly tour.

Attendees can take part in workshops including BMet’s nature and wellbeing workshops around the themes of planting and Tai Chi and on the spot muscle therapy from Release and Repair’s Roland Baskerville.

The day will also feature a ‘Human Library’ where people can attend discussions with keynote speakers. The ‘Human Library’ is facilitated by Dr Shani Dhanda, the multi-award disability inclusion and accessibility specialist, social entrepreneur and broadcaster (Loose Women, This Morning). The ‘Human Library’ also includes amongst others, Dr Amo Raju, Amit Ghose, Charlie Fogarty MBE., Alice Hargreaves and Charlotte Berisford.

Birmingham Disability Festival is organised by Festival Partners BMet College, Birmingham City University, SCCB, Ways for Wellbeing UK CIC, Arts Therapies UK, Augmented Lifestyle CIC, Sakeenah Foundation. The Festival is funded by Birmingham Metropolitan College, South and City College, Northfield and Ladywood Network Neighbourhood Scheme, Birmingham City Council.

BMet College commented “BMet is proud to be part of the city’s first Birmingham Disability Festival. It marks an important step for us to showcase disabled talent in Birmingham, celebrate our diverse identities, as well as supporting the ongoing work to improve experiences and outcomes for our disabled people.”

The first Birmingham Disability Festival is FREE to attendees and takes place at the Curzon Building, Birmingham City University (near to Millennium Point) on Saturday 6th July between 12 noon and 4pm and is fully accessible.

Free parking at Millennium Point car park is available for blue badge holders. Whether travelling by train, bus, tram or car, please check for delays, cancellations or road closures ahead of your journey.

British Sign Language interpreters and quiet spaces will be available at the festival. Assistance dogs are fully welcomed. Food and drink and seating areas will also be on site and festival organisers will be present throughout the day for information and guidance.

Although the event is FREE, attendees will need to register for a ticket. For more information and to register your attendance please go to the following link: http://bit.ly/BrumDisFest24.