Liverpool City Region For All Accessibility Event | VisitLiverpool and partners

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Liverpool City Region for all: Visitor economy accessibility support toolkit

Equip your organisation with the knowledge and resources needed to enhance accessibility.

Liverpool City Region Combined Authority hosted the inaugural Accessible Visitor Economy event on 31st January 2025 at Exhibition Centre Liverpool.

The forum brought together stakeholders from across the region to explore best practices for improving accessibility within the visitor economy. Attendees benefited from insights shared by expert speakers and individuals with lived experience, and connected with providers who are all experienced in supporting organisations on their accessibility journey.

A major highlight was the formal launch of the Accessibility Support Toolkit, digital platform created through 18 months of collaboration between ACC Liverpool and Liverpool ONE. The platform will foster a regional ecosystem of organisations committed to improving accessibility through resources, advice, and training.

A lady wearing a black outfit including a jacket with prominent shoulder pads, smiles at the camera. She has short brown hair with highlights and black, thick framed glasses. She is sitting in a wheelchair.

Keynote speaker and host profile: Baroness Grey-Thompson DBE, DL

Baroness Grey-Thompson DBE DL is a former paralympic athlete (amassing 11 gold medals over her sporting career) a crossbench peer in the House of Lords, and a disability rights campaigner.

A lady with red, waved hair smiles at the camera whilst holding onto a sandy coloured, golden retriever who is her guide dog.

Panellist profile: Lucy Edwards

Lucy Edwards is a blind broadcaster, Disability Activist, Author, Content Creator, and Journalist.

A man smiles at the camera. He is wearing a white shirt and blue trousers. He has short, dark hair and stubble. He is sitting in a black wheelchair, in a large open room with tall windows behind him.

Panellist profile: Ollie Thorn

Ollie Thorn is an inspiring speaker and specialist on navigating change, resilience and culture.

A man wearing a red shirt and blue, tartan suit jacket smiles at the camera.

Panellist profile: Ross Calladine

Ross Calladine is the Accessibility and inclusion Lead for VisitEngland.

A woman smiling brightly wearing a black blazer with a pale yellow dress, she is looking directly at the camera and smiling while leaning against a wall.

Panellist profile: Donna Howitt

Donna Howitt is the Place Strategy Director at Liverpool ONE.

A man with well groomed, dark hair smiles at the camera form behind, black, round lense glasses. He has a short beard and is wearing a white shirt, with a navy blue jumper over.

Panellist profile: Dr Marcus Hansen

Dr Marcus Hansen is a senior lecturer in tourism & events at Liverpool John Moores University.

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Panellist profile: Paul Evans

Paul is the Chief Executive Officer at Carlisle Support Services.

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Panellist profile: Matt Pierri

Matt Pierri is the founder and CEO of Sociability, a disability technology company organising the world's accessibility information.

A man looking at the camera wearing a shirt and navy blue tie. He has a lanyard round his neck and is wearing glasses.

Panellist profile: Tony Killen

Tony Killen is a Chartered Engineer with over 35 years of experience working in the rail and transport industry including 20 years at Liverpool City Region/Merseytravel.