Butterfield supports Guernsey’s first Accessible Christmas Lights event

Monday 12 November 2018

Butterfield has sponsored the island’s first Accessible Christmas Lights event, as part of the Accessible Town Project.

The project, which runs until 3 December, International Day of Persons with Disabilities, is a collection of initiatives to improve Guernsey’s accessibility for disabled people.

These initiatives include a number of events, educational workshops and media campaigns to assist those who want to become more disability confident. 

Butterfield will sponsor the children’s area at the island’s first Accessible Christmas Lights and shopping evening on 3 December between 17:30 and 19:30, which aims to provide a more accessible environment for disabled adults, children with disabilities, carers, family and friends to enjoy shopping and the Christmas lights.

Lindsay Ozanne, Deputy Managing Director at Butterfield Trust (Guernsey) said: "We’re proud to be supporting such an important event and a first for the island. The Accessible Christmas Lights event is such a worthwhile initiative for us to support as part of the on-going campaign to make Guernsey more accessible for all."

Karen Blanchford, Vice Chairperson at Access for All and Partnership Director at 'We All Matter, Eh?’, Guernsey Disability Alliance (GDA), added: "We’re thrilled Butterfield is sponsoring the children’s area for the island’s first ever Accessible Christmas Lights event. Attending the main Christmas Lights event is not possible for some disabled islanders so running a specific, more accessible event is key. 

"The aim of the Accessible Town Project is to make customer-facing businesses more aware of these opportunities and challenges, and inspire them to make changes to improve the disabled customer experience over the long term. By increasing accessibility and the disability confidence of businesses, we will encourage more of our 13,000 disabled islanders and more than 4,000 carers to shop, eat out and take an active part in our community."

The children’s area at the Accessible Christmas Lights event, which is funded by Butterfield, will include Santa and his friends, accessible children’s activities such as art, drama, shows and games, as well as reading time at the library. 

Pictured top: L-R Claire Heaume, Marketing Manager at Butterfield (Guernsey),  Jax Robin from St Peter Port Christmas Lights and Karen Blanchford, Vice Chair at Access for All and Partnership Director at ‘We All Matter, Eh?’ Guernsey Disability Alliance (GDA).