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North East solicitors confirmed as main sponsor of Tyneside music festival

North East-based solicitors Irwin Mitchell has officially been confirmed as the main sponsor of the Chase Park music festival taking place in Gateshead this August.

Recently awarded ‘Team of the Year – Personal Injury/Clinical Negligence’ at the Northern Law Awards, the law firm has offices in Newcastle and Middlesbrough, along with seven other offices around the UK.

It has decided to back the emerging festival for another year after it was announced the event had received the esteemed Gold level of Attitude is Everything’s Charter of Best Practice, one of only three festivals nationwide to receive the accolade.

The award recognises Chase Park’s wide range of access facilities and inclusive initiatives that the festival has embraced in welcoming deaf and disabled audiences, artists and volunteers. The only two other festivals to hold the Gold accolades are Glastonbury and Liberty Festival.

Irwin Mitchell, which supports and works alongside hundreds of disabled people and their families in the region said they are delighted to be involved in the event for another year.

Regional Managing Partner John Davis, said: “All disabled adults, children and young people have the right to try to fulfil their ambitions and at Irwin Mitchell we are committed to helping them to achieve this and it’s great that the Chase Park Festival is on our doorsteps here in the North East of England.

“For many disabled people, travelling long distances can be a problem and can also be expensive, so this fantastic festival provides an opportunity to see live acts which many disabled people might not ordinarily have.

“Having a disability should not stop people from having ambitions and aspirations, whether they are managing a condition they are born with or disability is something that has developed because of an injury or illness or through an accident. The work that we do with disabled people and their families demonstrates first-hand the challenges that they face and how important it is for disabled people to have independence, social skills and to enjoy life’s experiences.

Chase Park Festival organisers Keiro are delighted to have such a prominent organisation sponsor the event. Its Chief Executive, Boda Gallon, added: “It’s great to have such an established company like Irwin Mitchell support our event and become the main sponsor.

“Not only do they stand up for the rights of disabled people throughout the region and country, they also share the same values and vision about how a festival should be put together and they’re a perfect match for us.

“And achieving Gold Standard from Attitude is Everything is an amazing achievement and to be mentioned in the same breath as Glastonbury and Liberty Festival is something else. This should also give smaller festivals the confidence that they can achieve a fully-inclusive and superb event like ours.”

Irish rock legends Ash have been confirmed to perform at the fifth annual Chase Park Festival in Gateshead this summer along with some of the nation’s finest established and emerging talent.

The festival, which is organised by North East care specialists Keiro, will also feature a second stage to give disabled artists an opportunity to perform in front of a festival audience.

The family-friendly, open-air festival will feature two stages of live music on Saturday 8th August and will also welcome appearances from London’s chart-topping indie folk foursome Turin Brakes, Sunderland’s Field Music-backed outfit SLUG, Glasgow’s post-pop assemble Monogram and Newcastle’s soul singing sensation, Beth Macari.