What's this all about?

What’s it all about? Another platform listing events in the area? Well it isn’t just that.

I’m Mel I’m a mother of two kids with disabilities and also disabled myself. I’ve spent the last 19 years or so broke. Thinking about it, I wasn’t rolling around in money before that.

But when you have kids with SEND you spend an awful lot of time navigating a system. Trying to get the right support and education. Ensuring services stick to the law that side of things.

Then there is the arts side. I studied an Arts degree at Staffs University. I then got slightly distracted having kids and fell into a social work course and worked in Mental Health for 6 years. Then back to the arts again, with new found knowledge about what life is really about. I finally had something to write about. Over the past ten years I’ve had the best time being involved with various local theatres. I’ve reviewed shows and explored not just the main theatres in the area but the small arts organisations striving to make changes.

The problem is these organisations don’t have a pr budget to get the word out. The other issue is in the SEND community. So many families are isolated and have no idea of the enrichment out there that they can access and the glimmer of light in the tunnel.

But I do. I know the Arts council in particular wants minority audiences targeted. But how do they ever know? How do they know that they can bring their wheelchair users to a production? That there are relaxed performances. That there are touch tours?

How do people know that there are carers tickets and a whole host of other ways to make it happen.

What about for those struggling with money. Ultimately this goes hand in hand with disability. Being disabled is expensive. But many arts organisations offer pay what you can afford tariffs. Of course you don’t have to be disabled to be poor. That is the great thing about poverty it doesn’t discriminate.

This is why the website is called ‘Everyone’s Welcome’. It’s to help everyone. Amongst upbeat news and reviews I am formatting a table for the Midlands that does the hard work so you don’t have to. I will be collating all the events and listing accessibility and affordability details. Sign up to my newsletter for a weekly update of what is on. Unlike other sites though this is free at the point of access. I won’t be charging companies to list their events. I won’t be charging you to access the information.  I won’t be having very unhelpful adverts flashing on the page whilst you are trying to read. It’s a one woman show really. However I will accept ‘buy me a coffee’ donations to pay for my time and website costs. But that’s optional and for those who have recently had a windfall!

So that’s it really. See me as the stepping stone from people to arts. Because theatre enriches lives. It’s the truth. There are so many glorious shows out there tailored for so many people that need to be seen. Nothing beats the buzz of leaving the theatre after a show.  

If you are an organisation please drop me a line with all your details. I'm not going to sell you anything! It's free to list. 

If you are a company looking to support something worthwhile and help me make this website as user friendly as  possible then also drop me a line. I have a very limited budget (zero!).