Free citywide celebration adds new accessible route around Aston University lake

Birmingham’s only disability-led festival is returning this summer with a new addition to its programme.

The Birmingham Disability Festival, organised by BMet College, Aston University, Ways for Wellbeing UK CIC and the West Midlands Combined Authority, will take place on Saturday July 4 at BMet’s Matthew Boulton campus near Millennium Point.

From this year, the free event will include an Inclusive Walk between midday and 4pm, beginning with a warm-up before participants set off around Aston University’s lake on a paved route between four and eight metres wide.

The Birmingham Disability Festival Committee said the addition was “a powerful next step in our mission: creating space where disabled people can take up public space together, unapologetically and proudly, in the heart of Birmingham.”

The festival also features live performances from disabled artists and musicians, inclusive sports including wheelchair basketball, blind football and boccia, and a marketplace of disability led businesses.

Marshals to support participants on the day

Participants can join for all or part of the route, completing as many laps as they wish, with five laps equating to roughly one kilometre. The walk will be stewarded by four to five marshals.

Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, welcomed the announcement, saying: “Nearly 800,000 disabled people call the West Midlands home. We’re proud of our diversity and committed to becoming an Exemplary Region for Disabled People.”

Nabila Gardner, director at Ways for Wellbeing UK CIC, called the walk “a defining moment” for the festival, adding: “It brings our community together in public space with pride, solidarity and joy.”

Rabia Ahmed, Academic Lead for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at Aston University, said the festival was “about visibility, access and joy”, adding that the university was proud to host the new walk.

The festival runs from 11am to 6pm and remains free to attend, though visitors must register for tickets via Eventbrite.