Member Article

Inclusive free festival set for return

A major music festival that is aimed at including people of all abilities will be returning to the North-East this summer for a third consecutive year.

The hugely successful Chase Park Music Festival, which is the biggest open air event of its kind in the UK, is a collaboration between the local specialist healthcare provider Whickham Villa LLP and the Percy Hedley Foundation.

The organisers, along with the UK’s leading Music Development AgencyGenerator, will work with disabled people to plan, promote and participate in the festival that in 2012 has its finest line-up to date.

The free open-air festival, backed this year by the Arts Council, will take place from 12.00pm to 21.00pm on Saturday 11th August in Chase Park, Whickham. The talented line-up of mainly North-East acts will be headlined by psychedelic, six-piece, Hyde and Beast along with Amy Holford, Athletes in Paris, Boy Jumps Ship, Cattle and Cane, Collectors Club, Let’s Buy Happiness, Tom Doughty and The Crookes.

In 2011, the event attracted over 2,500 people with acts including Mausi and The Lake Poets, who recently opened the Evolution Festival.

Alistair McDonald, business development director at Whickham Villa LLP, said: “We are delighted to confirm the Chase Park Music Festival will be happening again this year and with the backing of the Arts Council, it promises to the biggest and best one to date.

“The whole idea behind the event is to be inclusive for everyone regardless of ability, as factors such as remote locations, expense and poor facilities, mean many mainstream outdoor music festivals can often exclude people with disabilities.

“Not only is the festival for anyone and everyone but it also gives some of the finest musical talent in our region the chance to perform on an open-air set in front of a fantastic diverse crowd.”

Chase Park Music Festival is aimed at helping break down barriers and stereotypes often associated with people with disabilities. The family and community oriented festival uses music as the foundation to get people from all walks of life together to enjoy a fun-packed carnival atmosphere.

Ruth Woodfine, employability project manager at the Percy Hedley Foundation, said: “Last year’s event was amazing and this year it looks set to be even better. The festival is one of a kind and helps demonstrate the important role music can play in the rehabilitation process, not just as a sensory stimulus but in bringing people together in a social situation. It will no doubt attract thousands regardless of their abilities from across and beyond the region.”

As well as music, this year’s event will include a second arena with circus and DJ workshops, market stalls, a holistic therapy tent, craft stalls, face painting and an array of food & drink. It will also include games and an education centre where people can learn about disabilities and get an insight into the human brain.

Celebrating its 25th birthday this year, family-owned Whickham Villa LLP operates Chase Park Rehabilitation Centre, Millfield House Care Home and a health club on the same site in Gateshead. It has developed successful partnerships with many charitable organisations such as Headway, the MS Society, Arthritis Care and the North East Motor Neurone Disease Trust.

Chase Park Rehabilitation Centre is recognised as one of the UK’s leading neuro-rehabilitation facilities and primarily supports people with acquired brain and spinal injuries as well as people with complex neurological conditions and severe disabilities.

The company recently rubber-stamped a new multi-million pound facility in Middlesbrough, which will create over 100 jobs and provide rehabilitation and support services for people with long-term neurological conditions in Teesside.

For more information about the event and to register for tickets: www.whickamvilla.co.uk

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Jodie Balmer .