A partnership between the University of Bath and BIM4Water has been recognised for Excellence in Inclusion and Diversity at the national Digital Construction Live Awards. The awards highlighted excellence in digital construction, where data and technologies are used to improve the planning, design, construction and operation of built infrastructure. The partnership was recognised for research exploring how digital technologies can enhance the employment prospects of neurodive

The Disabled Persons Railcard eligibility criteria will be extended from March 1 to include a broader range of visible and non-visible disabilities.   The changes mean thousands more people will benefit from significant savings on their rail travel, including:    ·           A third off rail fares for the named card holder  ·           A third off for one accompanying adult aged 16+, helping their companions save too  ·           Average annual savings of around £126 a year,

A passenger lift installed into the 400-year-old Banqueting House in London’s Whitehall will offer visitors step-free access to Peter Paul Rubens’ masterpiece ceiling for the first time.   Built for King James I in 1622, the Banqueting House is last complete piece of the lost royal Palace of Whitehall, most of which perished to fire in 1698.   It has recently reopened following a major project by Historic Royal Palaces to upgrade the building’s facilities and carry out essent

The Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics have officially ended following the closing ceremony in northern Italy. But for sports fans there is more spectacular sport on the snow and ice to come in the Paralympic Winter Games. Around 665 athletes competing in 79 medal events across six sports – Para alpine skiing, Para biathlon, Para cross-country skiing, Para ice hockey, Para snowboard and wheelchair curling – will gather next month in Italy for the games. An on-screen team of

Army veteran and extreme athlete Darren Hardy (pictured above) is set to take on his biggest challenge yet as he aims to set a world record by pulling a 1.5-tonne Land Rover 100km in just 100 hours. His latest challenge is driven by his determination to help develop a life-changing treatment for 17-year-old Aggie Candy-Waters and others like her who live with a rare, deadly, and currently incurable brain disease, H-ABC. With the aim of raising £100,000 for the H-ABC Foundati

Live to Your Living Room welcomes the Pagoda Project to the stage on February 20 as part of its exciting 2026 programme of music.   Folk and jazz are two surprisingly similar genres, both rooted in tradition and culture, and Pagoda Project brings a show that effortlessly blends the two together.   Pagoda Project draws on its deep talent and knowledge of jazz and folk to create a show that’s both comfortingly familiar and excitingly new and dynamic. Expect bold, brave music an

The founder of a company showcasing a range of gripping aids for those with reduced hand function has pitched for investment on the BBC One’s Dragons’ Den. Rob Smith MBE, from the Active Hands Company, created the company after a spinal cord injury in 1996. Frustrated by how his affected hands prevented him from holding gym equipment, he created a range of gripping aids to hold his hands securely around objects needed for daily living. Today the company’s products support peo

A free event that supports children with disabilities and additional needs will celebrate its 25th anniversary with a special performance by a group of Britain’s Got Talent stars. Born To Perform, an inclusive dance school for performers with special educational needs, rose to fame on the 2022 series of the hit ITV show, winning a Golden Buzzer prize and an army of new fans nationwide. The Northamptonshire-based group, who were universally applauded for breaking down disabili

When Cirque du Soleil, the ground-breaking Canadian performance troupe, first performed in 1984, they showed the world what circus could look like without the use of animals. In this year’s production, Ovo, showing at London’s Royal Albert Hall until Sunday March 1, the tables are well and truly turned. All the humans play insects in this stunning treat for the senses. Ovo was devised to celebrate Cirque’s 25th anniversary in 2009, and has toured the world since then. But eve

Mobility in Motion  has announced a new charity partnership with  Dwarf Sports Association UK (DSA UK) .   The partnership builds on the success of Mobility in Motion’s recent charity collaborations with Amputation Foundation, Aspire, Remap, and WheelPower.   “Working with our charity partners in 2025 taught us a huge amount about collaboration, listening, and creating impact together,” said Bruce Lauder, Head of Sales and Marketing at Mobility in Motion, which endeavours to

This article is a sponsored advertorial. Naidex is the UK’s leading event for the disability, independent living and healthcare communities, a space where accessibility, innovation and lived experience come together to shape a more inclusive world.   For over 50 years, Naidex has been at the forefront of progress, connecting professionals, carers, individuals and brands who share one common goal: to improve lives through inclusion, technology and understanding. Who attends Na

ParalympicsGB has announced the Media & Entertainment Group Global as its Official Audio & Outdoor Partner for the upcoming Paralympic cycle and through to the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games. The collaboration will bring the stories, achievements and personalities of ParalympicsGB athletes to audiences across the UK. It will give fans access to ParalympicsGB content across Global’s flagship radio brands and podcasts, including  athlete-led content and behind-the-scenes fea

Teenager Nevaeh Dunmore (pictured above) is encouraging disabled and neurodivergent children to showcase their talents in a charity competition. The 16-year-old, who is autistic, dyslexic and has epilepsy, was one of three winners in last years’ Time to Shine competition run by charity Cauldwell Children. The competition aims to recognise potential in every child by celebrating the talents of disabled and neurodivergent children aged 6-16. “Performing is my happy place – I fe

The Banff Mountain Film Festival, now in its 50th year, is a celebration of personal achievement designed to be shared with a worldwide audience. This year’s Red programme (there’s a separate Blue programme) of five films will make you laugh and make you cry. There are screenings across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland for the rest of 2026. The Banff festival organisers have been coming to the UK for 17 years with their handpicked selection of some of the most wo

Live to Your Living Room welcomes the award-winning John Kirkpatrick to the stage on February 12 to take on a whirlwind tour of the humble squeezebox.   If you’re a lover of squeezeboxes of all styles, shapes, and forms, this gig will deliver exquisite music and a history lesson at the same time. Enjoy two hundred years of popular tunes played on the Anglo concertina, the melodeon, and the button accordion, including folk classics, nostalgic signature tunes, lugubrious hymns,

Family Fund and National Deaf Children’s Society have launched a new UK-wide support programme for deaf children.   The partnership will provide over £400,000 in funding for assistive technology and British Sign Language (BSL) learning to support   families of children with hearing loss aged 11 and under.   The new programme will support around 600 families across the UK, funding vital technology to support children’s hearing and communication needs, alongside BSL courses to

There are just five days left to enter Elevate - The Disabled Founders Pitch, created to empower disabled founders and entrepreneurs.   Back as part of Naidex (National Accessibility, Inclusion & Disability Expo) 2026 it’s an opportunity for a business to secure the funding, mentorship, and platform it needs to reach the next level. Held in partnership with Lloyds the initiative will provide a unique platform for disabled entrepreneurs and business owners to showcase their in

Dynamic Earth has announced a major milestone in its commitment to inclusion by introducing British Sign Language (BSL) into its world-class Planetarium. The Edinburgh-based science centre will become one of the first in the UK to offer multiple Planetarium films with BSL interpretation from March 1. This includes  You Are Here  and  Don’t Panic , live shows developed by Dynamic Earth’s team of in‑house astronomers. Supported by funding from the Birkdale Trust, the initiative

Spinal Injuries Association (SIA) has launched the results of its nationwide ‘T ravel With Confidence’   campaign. Funded by the Motability Foundation, the campaign has documented the real-world challenges faced by wheelchair users and people with limited mobility every day. With just 48 hours' notice, six people with spinal cord injuries from across the UK were challenged to plan and complete a journey to Central London using two forms of public transport, capturing and rati

Dame Vera Lynn Children’s Charity (DVLCC) is celebrating 25 years of providing life-changing support to babies and young children living with cerebral palsy and other motor learning impairments. Since opening its doors in 2001, the charity has grown from a vision by the late Dame Vera Lynn (pictured below) into a vital service supporting families throughout the southeast.  The charity is marking the milestone by setting an ambitious goal to support 25 more children this year