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Media Release: Truro BID Launches New Accessibility Project in Partnership with Access Cornwall

Truro BID is proud to announce the launch of an ambitious new project, Access Truro, to make the city of Truro more accessible and welcoming for everyone.

Working in partnership with Access Cornwall CIC and with financial support from Truro City Council, the initiative will help businesses, and the wider community take practical steps to remove barriers and improve experiences for residents and visitors with disabilities, health conditions, and neurodivergence.

The project, which is funded by The Town Regeneration and Investment Programme (TRIP) and match funded by Truro City Council, will run throughout the coming months, includes:

  • An Accessible Guide to Truro – a 32 to 40 page print and digital guide highlighting accessible routes, venues, facilities, and services across the city.
  • An Experience Truro Differently Day – a day devised by Cllr Steven Webb, where decision-makers will explore the city from the perspective of someone with accessibility challenges.
  • Accessibility training for up to 160 local businesses, providing staff with the skills and confidence to support all customers.
  • Accessibility reviews for 30 local businesses, helping them understand how to make simple, cost-effective improvements.

Alun Jones, Truro BID Manager, said: “This project is about making sure Truro is truly open to all. By working with Access Cornwall, who bring lived experience and professional expertise, we can help businesses remove barriers, attract more customers, and showcase Truro as a forward thinking city that really cares about inclusion.”

Viki Carpenter, Founding Director of Access Cornwall, said: “We’re really excited to be working in Truro, at the heart of our Duchy, on this project. Every member of our team, including our volunteers from Truro live with disability or neurodivergence, so we know first-hand how important accessibility is. Truro has so much to offer – and this project is a chance to work with the local community to celebrate the positives, highlight what businesses are already doing well, and provide practical tools and equipment to make our city even more welcoming.”

David Rodda MBE, Town Clerk for Truro City Council, commented: “Truro is a Great Little City in which to live, work and visit but we also want it to be accessible to all so the opportunity to work with the Truro BID and Access Cornwall on this important project is welcomed. The financial support provided by the City Council demonstrates our commitment to help improve the accessibility and the opportunity to work with businesses on the high street will also help to deliver an improved understanding of the challenges they face operating in an historic city centre location.”

Cllr Steven Webb added: “Being a wheelchair user myself, this project is really important to get those that make decisions, to experience Truro the way many of us do on a daily basis. Things need to change, and the Access Truro project is a great start in the right direction.”

Truro businesses are set to benefit from the initiative by receiving free training, expert feedback, and the opportunity to be featured in the official Accessible Guide to Truro, helping attract a wider customer base. Plus, ramps and accessible equipment will be made available for high street businesses to use.

The Accessible Guide to Truro, will give residents and visitors clear, trustworthy information and a map on accessible places to shop, eat, visit, and explore, making Truro easier and more enjoyable for everyone.

Truro BID are engaging with local businesses and organisations in the city to encourage them to participate and take part in one session of accessibility training this autumn. Online and face to face training is available. Online training will take place on Tuesday 21 October and Thursday 20 November at 12 noon until 2pm, and face to face training will take place on Tuesday 25 November from 10am until 12 noon and Thursday 27 November from 2pm to 4pm at Truro City Council’s training room at Truro Library. Places are limited.

Truro City Centre businesses interested in the accessibility training should email the Access Cornwall team at hello@accesscornwall.org.uk or complete the online booking form tinyurl.com/AccessTruroTraining to secure their free space.

The Accessible Guide to Truro will be available later this year in print and online.

Access Truro is part-funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The funding was allocated through Cornwall Council’s Town Regeneration and Investment Programme, which is part of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Good Growth Programme.

ENDS 

 

Notes to Editors

  • Truro BID is a not-for-profit organisation delivering projects events and services for the benefit of Truro and Truro’s businesses – www.trurobid.co.uk
  • Access Cornwall CIC is a not-for-profit organisation led by people with disabilities and learning difference
  • Access Cornwall’s mission is to improve accessibility and inclusivity across Cornwall so that everyone can enjoy social opportunities, attractions and activities. For more information, visit:www.accesscornwall.org.uk.
  • The UK Shared Prosperity Fund proactively supports delivery of the UK-government’s five national missions: pushing power out to communities everywhere, with a specific focus to help kickstart economic growth and promoting opportunities in all parts of the UK.
  • For more information, visit UK Shared Prosperity Fund Prospectus https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus.