Walton Gardens set for 30th Disability Awareness Day

The 30th Disability Awareness Day will be back at Walton Hall and Gardens on Sunday, September 12, after last year’s event had to be held virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic.

More than 200 exhibitors will be present at the world’s largest not-for-profit volunteer-led disability exhibition.

But DAD 2021 was remarkably only put together at three months’ notice, having been given the go-ahead in July when the removal of social distancing rules went ahead – despite the added challenges of ensuring the event is Covid-secure in partnership with Warrington Borough Council and Public Health England.

Dave Thompson – event founder and chief executive of Warrington Disability Partnership, the charity that runs DAD and is also celebrating its 30th birthday in 2021 – said: “We normally spend 13 months putting the show together, but this year we’ve done it in nine weeks.

“It sounds incredibly or even impossible really, but it’s because we’ve got a great team.

“Between us, we’ve done it and on Sunday the living proof will be here.

Dave Thompson

“Covid hasn’t gone away – it’s still around us and we’ve got to be really sensitive about that.

“There will be a lot more space and we’ve taken away some of the congested areas.

“We’ve actually turned away some big exhibitors as we felt it would be a bit too congested.

“We have worked really hard to try and create extra space without losing the atmosphere, because there is a great atmosphere at DAD.

“We want people to come and have a good day, and to feel safe while they do so.”

Three decades ago, Dave could never have imagined that the inaugural DAD would still be going strong today and boasting international editions in countries such as Cameroon and India.

Looking back on the first festival, he said: “In July 1992, myself and my then teenage son Gavin came up here with a tin of white emulsion paint, a paintbrush, a tape measure and marked the place out on the morning of the show.

“This time, we were up here on Saturday marking out followed by a full week of building a whole village.

“It’s a great achievement, and everyone here is a volunteer – our DAD’s army.

“If you look back 30 years, none of us would have expected that DAD would still be going, that it would be the size it is today or run in 10 countries worldwide.

“The excitement in the sports zone, the arts marquee, the main arena and around the exhibitors – it makes you feel really warm and humbled.”

And when the crowds flock back to Walton Gardens on Sunday, it will be a truly poignant occasion.

Dave added: “The sad reflection is the amount of people that we’ve lost in the past two years.

“DAD doesn’t do itself, it’s all about a great team of people who come together and make the dream come alive.

“At some point on the day, I will take some time with friends and family and reflect on what we’ve achieved again and think of those who are no longer with us – because it’s very important that we don’t forget them.

“There are so many people that we really have to thank, because we wouldn’t be where we are without them.

“More than 60 per cent of people who have died of Covid have been disabled people, which is quite shocking.

“But we can promise that the site will be as safe as it possibly can be and we’re all looking forward to getting out again.”

Attendees of the free event can also enjoy a sports zone, arts marquee and family entertainment between 10am and 4pm.

Free park and ride buses are available to and from Warrington town centre and Wilderspool Park.

For more information, go to disabilityawarenessday.org.uk.