On November 7th, South Bank BID was awarded the publicly voted for “BID Industry Favourite” award at the 2019 National BIDs Conference, for our Accessible South Bank programme. The project, in partnership with leading disability charity AccessAble, provided comprehensive accessibility audits performed by highly skilled experts, of over 50 venues, hotels, cultural attractions and public spaces in South Bank. Detailed Access Guides were then produced, which ensure visitors requiring accessibility information can make an informed choice prior to visiting South Bank. In a recent survey, AccessAble discovered that 76% of those with accessibility needs will specifically not visit a place because of a lack of available information prior to travelling.
The Conference, hosted by British BIDs and held in Downing College Cambridge, recognised a wide range of important BID placemaking initiatives from across the UK and Ireland. “Accessible South Bank” was one of 9 BID projects shortlisted for public vote under “BID Industry Favourite 2019”. South Bank BID is honoured to have this meaningful project that promotes a greater city-wide move towards inclusivity voted for by the public and would like to thank all those who voted in support.
The “BID Industry Favourite” award was one of four presented on the day, and the only award to be decided by public vote. On a busy day for South Bank BID, the team collected their official British BIDs accreditation certificate, Marketing and Communications Director Craig Hurring presented to the audience on South Bank BID’s successful renewal ballot, while individual members of the team accepted their graduating certificates for the British BIDs Certificate of BID Management (CiBM) qualification, which 6 members of South Bank BID’s delivery team now hold.
Chief Executive Nic Durston remarked: “We are delighted to receive this award, particularly as it has been voted for by the public. The vote demonstrates how important and relevant questions of inclusivity are to our towns and cities. This is ambitious and inclusive placemaking work, and we’re now having exciting discussions with London’s Deputy Mayor for Social Integration and other London BIDs to see how Accessible South Bank can be the model to make London the greatest city for accessibility information.”
The complete Access Guides for Accessible South Bank are available on South Bank London and on both AccessAble’s website and app.
