Featured Image: Luke Dyson
The O2 has been awarded Platinum status by charity Attitude is Everything in recognition of the London venue’s commitment to improving accessibility for disabled fans, artists and members of staff.
Having previously achieved Gold status back in 2013, The O2 is now the first arena in the UK to achieve Platinum.
The O2 has worked closely with the disability charity on its Live Events Access Charter, which helps to ensure there is a clear understanding of the potential access requirements of Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent visitors.
The Charter requires venues to demonstrate practical actions undertaken to improve accessibility, as well as a further commitment to continuously improving these measures.
Sam Oldham, venue director at The O2, explained: “As a passionate advocate for inclusivity and access at live event venues, I’m extremely proud of all the work that our teams do to make The O2 a truly accessible venue, and to have that recognised by Attitude is Everything with the Platinum award is a huge honour.
“The O2 is a world-leading venue, and with that comes a responsibility to drive change and pave the way for the wider industry, and we’re really proud to be doing that for accessibility as the first UK arena to achieve this award. Creating a best-in-class experience for all is at the heart of everything we do, so we will continue to take on feedback and work closely with Attitude is Everything to build on this achievement moving forwards.”
Ahead of achieving Platinum status, the venue has introduced a quarterly access forum with disabled customers and external consultants to advise on improvements, and has also started offering sensory bags to support neurodivergent guests.
Last year saw The O2 become the first UK arena to be named an official member of the Hidden Disability Sunflower scheme, alongside the venue’s catering partner Levy UK and security provider G4S.
Additionally, digital enhancements were made to ensure The O2 offered a fully accessible website and online customer journey, including the integration of the Nimbus Access Card within the AXS ticketing platform to improve the ticket purchase flow for guests with accessibility requirements.
“We’re thrilled that The O2 has been presented with the Platinum Award for their exceptional commitment to accessibility and inclusion,” said Alex Covell, live events access manager at Attitude is Everything.
“For over a decade, The O2 has made significant strides in inclusive practices. Their comprehensive approach includes accessible recruitment processes; providing detailed, advanced information to audiences; excellent on-site facilities, such as their Changing Places and ‘Safe Space’; and innovative solutions such as haptic technology and sensory bags.”
Covell added: “The team at The O2 are dedicated to ongoing development and are fully committed to ensuring that everyone has the best event experience possible. Their efforts extend beyond the arena itself, as they inspire and collaborate with partners and other spaces to adopt inclusive practices, such as introducing ‘Quiet Hours’ at the Virgin Media Gamepad. The Platinum Award reflects The O2’s leadership in accessibility and their deep engagement with the disabled community.”
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