News
Major BD venue support the Sunflower
- Written By: British Dressage
- Published: Thu, 14 Nov 2024 15:10
Premier Gloucester sporting centre Hartpury University & College are leading the way in supporting the British Dressage pledge to provide greater support to those with hidden disabilities. As part of Dressage For All Week (11 - 15 November 2024), read their case study, as a flagship Sunflower venue.
Sunflower supports those with non-visible disabilities. Some conditions, chronic illnesses or disabilities are not immediately obvious to others. For some people this can make it hard to understand and appreciate that someone with a non-visible condition genuinely needs support.
The Sunflower can be displayed in a number of different forms, depending on the preference of the user, including as a lanyard, lapel badge, face mask or ID card. For use in British Dressage affiliated competition or training activity, the Sunflower can be displayed via a competitor armband, which is available from the BD shop. Displaying the Sunflower will help British Dressage offer better support to its members, officials and supporters involved in the sport.
Venues have a key role to play in fulfilling Sunflower support, and Hartpury University & College have led the way in working towards an improved environment for those with hidden disabilities, enabling an improved competition day experience.
Kathryn Cadoux-Hudson, Equine Events Manager at Hartpury University & College spoke to British Dressage about the premier centre's role as a flagship Sunflower venue.
Can you explain the adaptations or provisions you have put in place at Hartpury as our flagship Sunflower venue?
In the reception area to the Hartpury Arena we have posters displaying information about the Sunflower and we have a dedicated room available for anyone visiting the site to use if they need a quiet space. On our website you can find the Venue sensory guide and a link to the Hidden Disabilities website so that people are able to access further information before they arrive so they can feel confident there are areas in place. Our event staff have also been briefed on Sunflower and Hidden Disabilities and how people may need extra support or time when visiting our centre.
By taking these steps, do you hope that other venues will follow your lead?
I would hope that other venues do get involved with the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower. Even just making a few small changes to a venue might be enough to help someone have a better experience or even enable them to compete in the first place and supporters of these athletes also have the opportunity to use the spaces..
How important is it that we aim to strive towards an equal and fair experience for all, taking into account different individuals needs?
It is very important to make our sport accessible to all as well as to raise awareness of hidden disabilities so that people can be more understanding and accepting in day-to-day life. If by making some adaptions to a venue we can make it more inclusive and remove barriers to participation it is going to benefit both riders and visitors alike which in turn helps support venues and the sport as a whole.
Is the Sunflower a part of life on the campus at Hartpury in general, away from equestrian too?
A key part of Hartpury’s mission is to provide an equal and inclusive learning and working environment for our students and staff so that all develop to their full potential. The Sunflower helps to encourage inclusivity, acceptance and understanding of Hidden Disabilities and there are a number of students and staff members that wear a Sunflower lanyard around campus. Our wellbeing centre on the main campus has areas that staff and students can access if they need a quiet space so it is fantastic to now have a dedicated space at Equine as well.
Have you had any feedback from Sunflower wearers, or any competitors, on the effort you are making as a Sunflower venue?
We have had some positive comments from spectators and supporters of competitors regarding the provisions we have put in place. These have only been in place a short while and we hope that the awareness of the provisions improves and we will get more positive and constructive feedback.
Are you planning on expanding on any provision for hidden disabilities?
Yes, we will make the same provisions at our showjumping and unaffiliated dressage competitions going forward and look to extend these around campus. We will also be expanding on the information that we have available on our website, making this more interactive and developing our venue guide further.
