Peak District & Derbyshire Access and Inclusion Forum

Working together to make the Peak District and Derbyshire a more welcoming destination

We want everyone to feel welcome and able to enjoy everything the Peak District and Derbyshire has to offer. Our new Access and Inclusion Forum will bring together a small group of visitor economy businesses who share an interest in making our destination more accessible and inclusive.

The Forum will provide an opportunity for businesses to share experiences, exchange ideas, learn from one another and explore practical ways to improve the experiences of visitors who may face barriers to feeling welcome or included.

What is the Forum about?

Accessibility and inclusion mean different things to different businesses, and every business is at a different stage of its journey.

Some may be just starting to consider what they can do, while others may have already made significant improvements and have valuable experience to share. We believe there is a great deal businesses can learn from one another, and that small changes can often make a meaningful difference.

The Forum will focus on:

• Sharing practical ideas, experiences and examples of good practice.
• Building confidence and helping businesses turn knowledge into action.
• Exploring ways to communicate accessibility and inclusion information clearly and confidently.
• Understanding the different barriers visitors may experience and how businesses can help overcome them.
• Developing opportunities to work together, potentially including visitor itineraries, resources, case studies and shared marketing activity.

Who are we looking for?

We’re keen to hear from businesses across the visitor economy, including accommodation providers, attractions, hospitality businesses, activity and experience providers and other tourism-related organisations.

We want to bring together a small and varied group, with businesses at different stages of their accessibility and inclusion journey.

You don't need to be an expert or have all the answers. We are looking for businesses that are interested, open to learning, willing to share their experiences and keen to help make a difference.

Whether you are just beginning to explore accessibility, have already introduced improvements or have experience that could inspire others, we would love to hear from you.

What will being involved mean?

The Forum will meet three times a year, with at least one meeting taking place in person. Meetings will provide an opportunity to discuss ideas, share experiences, explore challenges and learn from other businesses.

There may also be opportunities to visit businesses and see examples of good practice first-hand, as well as work together on practical projects that could benefit the wider visitor economy.

The Forum will be coordinated by Visit Peak District & Derbyshire, with the aim of creating a supportive and collaborative network rather than an additional layer of bureaucracy.

Interested in getting involved?

If you would like to help shape a more accessible and inclusive visitor experience across the Peak District and Derbyshire, we’d love to hear from you.

Please complete our short application form to tell us a little about your business, your experience and what you would like to contribute to the Forum.

APPLY TO JOIN THE FORUM

Applications close on Sunday 22 November.