Town to light up for GDA event

Monday 03 December 2018

The first Accessible Christmas Lights and Shopping evening is taking place today, to mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

Special people who have made a difference to someone they know will also be celebrated, as the Guernsey Disability Alliance will be presenting their MakeAChange awards at the event.

The GDA have organised the evening alongside the St Peter Port Christmas Lights, designed to encourage as many people into Town as possible.

Activities will be taking place across the Market, including fun for children in the library, a visit by Santa, live music, Christmas food and drinks, a present wrapping service and more.

But everything is being made as open to everyone as possible, with the inclusion of quiet zones, rest areas and accessible toilets also being created, along with additional blue badge parking.

"Last year Guernsey celebrated this day more formally with our ‘Think Differently about Disability’ campaign in the run up to IDPwD and on the day with our #MakeAChange awards," a GDA spokesperson said.

"This year we plan to use the Accessible Town project to celebrate the achievements of organisations and individuals that have continued to drive that change. These changes will be showcased through short videos, nomination posters and various media channels before a public presentation in the evening Monday 3 December (after 18:00)."

Pictured: The event has been publicised widely by the GDA online. 

The International Day of Persons with Disabilities is a UN day observed around the world, which aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilise support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities.

It also seeks to increase awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life within our communities across the world.

To celebrate this, the GDA said it was not only hosting the evening, but also presenting awards for nominees who have "made a change" in their member's lives. Those awards are being presented at 18:00 in the market. 

Finally, a number of buildings across Guernsey will be joining in the UK purple light up, including St James and the Market. 

To read more about the event, click here.