The Field Guide - Session Two: Everybody's Welcome

Designing spaces, events and projects that people can genuinely accessWhat is it?This day is about welcome, inclusion and participation.
It explores the difference between saying "everyone is welcome" and actually designing spaces, projects and events where more people feel able to show up, take part and belong.Using the Field Guide's Access Audit and related tools, participants will look at the visible and invisible barriers that stop people engaging, including cost, confidence, representation, physical access, social anxiety and unclear invitations.Who is it for?This day is for:Venues, libraries and community spaces
Event organisers and festival teams
Cultural organisations
Community centres and village halls
Councils and public engagement teams
Health, wellbeing and social prescribing projects
Charities and voluntary groups
Anyone responsible for making spaces or activities more inclusiveWhat will we cover?Why "open to all" is not the same as accessible
The four key barriers: financial, physical, psychological and cultural
How to design a better welcome before, during and after an event
How to reduce anxiety and uncertainty for first-time participants
How to think about representation without tokenism
How to create clear boundaries and safer spaces
How to ask, listen and adapt without becoming overwhelmedWhat will you take away?Participants will leave with:A completed Access Audit for one of their own spaces, events or projects
A practical inclusion action plan
Ideas for improving welcome, signage, pricing, communication and participation
A clearer understanding of who is not yet in the room
Simple tools for starting conversations about inclusion with teams and boards
Confidence to make small, practical changes that improve access