this week's Radio 4 Appeal is on behalf of the charity Attitude is Everything

This week’s Radio 4 Appeal is on behalf of the charity Attitude is Everything presented by the journalist, campaigner and volunteer Katie Pennick. Running for seven days from Sunday 29th August.

Attitude is Everything is a charity that has worked for over 20 years to connect Deaf and disabled people with music and event industries to improve access together. Their volunteering programme gives people new skills, confidence and a sense of community, and a voice to affect change via the mystery shopping of events. They support venues and festivals across the UK to improve accessibility, with over 200 signed up to our Charter of Best Practice. At the heart of our work is the belief that everyone should be able to enjoy the social, creative and wellbeing benefits which come from being able to access the arts.

Click the link to listen and donate. Thank you! Please support them, as the day you may need their help, might be sooner than you think.

Presented by journalist and disability campaigner Katie Pennick, it airs again on Thursday 2nd September at 3:27 pm,

You can listen again to the Radio 4 Appeal (here).

Katie’s story focuses on her experience volunteering as an access steward at Glastonbury, one of the many gold standard venues and events on Attitude is Everything's Charter of Best Practice. You can see who else they work with by clicking here.

Discover more about how volunteering supports the personal development of Deaf and disabled people here.

Attitude is Everything recently produced a guide which, although focused on music and events, has many tips useful for all businesses and employers.

While Katie talks vividly of the joy of being in the crowd, their Next Stage project focuses on creating opportunities for Deaf and Disabled performers to express themselves from the stage.

Volunteering is a vital aspect of their work, creating a community of Deaf and disabled music fans, and opening doors for people who assumed there were no opportunities for them within the music and live events industries.

In the Radio 4 Appeal we hear from Katie, who volunteered for Attitude is Everything in 2015.

Katie said: "One of the most important messages of our work is that access doesn’t have to be a complicated or expensive endeavour. Some of the simplest actions, such as clear website information or well-trained staff, make a world of difference and can be put in place anywhere. This has allowed us to work with a wide variety of events and spaces, from Glastonbury to the smallest grassroots venue.

"It has been really heartening to see music and live events become more accessible over the last 20 years, but the pandemic has greatly impacted our work. We don’t want to see the joy that live music can bring become inaccessible to our audiences again. Anything you can give will help us continue to ensure the opportunities, communities and joy live music can bring remain accessible to all."

Support the Appeal

There are a number of ways you can support the appeal:

Until the end of Saturday September 4, donate via Radio 4 online here or call 0800 404 814.

You can donate by cheque anytime, making the cheque payable to Attitude is Everything, sending it to free post Radio 4 Appeal (That’s the whole address. Please do not write anything else on the front of the envelope). Please mark your envelope Attitude is Everything.

If you are a UK taxpayer, why not add Gift Aid to your donation? A £10 donation with Gift Aid adds an extra £2.50 to your donation. If you wish to apply Gift Aid to a one-off donation:

You can find their Gift Aid form here.

Please fill the form in and send it to the Fundraising Assistant Simon via Simon@attitudeiseverything.org.uk

Donate via text

A simple way to donate is via text! For a one-off donation of £5 text PLAYMYPART to 70085. Texts cost £5 plus one standard rate message. Attitude is Everything will not use your mobile number to contact you or share with any third party.