Baroness Tanni Grey Thompson to host Liverpool City Region accessible tourism event

LEGENDARY Paralympian Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE DL is to be keynote speaker and host of an event aimed at ensuring the Liverpool City Region's visitor economy is accessible for all.

The multi-gold medallist and disability rights campaigner will host the 2025 Liverpool City Region for All forum at the ACC Liverpool on Friday 31 January.

The event will bring together disability experts, stakeholders, and businesses to explore best practices for improving accessibility within the Liverpool City Region's visitor economy.

Tanni will be joined at the event by 2 inspirational panellists, in Lucy Edwards and Ollie Thorn.

Lucy Edwards is an award-winning presenter, content creator and disability activist. Since losing her eyesight at 17, Lucy has become 1 of the leading voices in diversity, equity and inclusion worldwide.

Ollie Thorn is an inspiring speaker and specialist on navigating change, resilience, and culture, who became a full-time wheelchair user after a life-changing injury and has since become an international para-snow sports athlete and advocate for disability inclusion.

Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram said:- "We want everybody to feel welcome in the Liverpool City Region, and this forum is an important step in making sure our visitor economy is accessible to all. We want to ensure that whether you're a resident or a visitor, you can fully experience everything our City has to offer, no matter your circumstances. By bringing together businesses, disability experts, and community leaders, we'll continue to drive positive change and build a more inclusive, accessible future for our Region."

Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE DL said:- "I'm absolutely delighted to be part of the LCR's accessibility forum event. This initiative is a major step forward for the Region, showcasing its commitment to accessibility. It's a fantastic opportunity to bring stakeholders together to start those important conversations about accessibility and I am looking forward to engaging in these discussions and seeing the positive impact this forum will have on the Region."

Donna Howitt, Place Strategy Director of Liverpool 1 and Deputy Chair of the Liverpool City Region Destination Partnership, said:- "We have a tremendous visitor offer in the Liverpool City Region, attracting more than 60 million people every year, and we are committed to ensuring that we are welcoming and accessible to everyone. We want to ensure that everyone can enjoy what we have to offer, no matter what their disability, and this forum is about raising awareness and providing practical tools for businesses to make sure that is the case."

The event, organised by the Liverpool City Region Destination Partnership, will also feature insight from Visit England, Liverpool ONE, ACC Liverpool delegates and other strategic stakeholders.

Findings and recommendations from a Liverpool City Region Combined Authority- commissioned report into the experiences of disabled people visiting the City Region will also be revealed at the event.

The event will conclude with the launch of the Accessibility Marketplace, which will provide an opportunity for attendees to connect with disability specialists best placed to provide the tools and solutions needed for businesses looking to advance to the next stage of their accessibility journey.

Following the event, the Accessibility Marketplace will be available through a digital platform to ensure businesses can continue to access the advise and support needed for on-going improvement on their journey to becoming more accessible

The event is supported by:- Liverpool ONE, ACC Liverpool, Liverpool Bid Company, Liverpool Hospitality, Carlisle Support Services, Liverpool John Lennon Airport, Sodexo and Hospitality Hero.

Tickets for the event, which runs from:- 12:30 to 16:00, on:- Friday, 31 January 2025, are still available and can be found here.

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In Liverpool, smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death and illness. 2 in 3 smokers will lose their lives to a smoking related illness, while many more live with serious health problems like heart disease, strokes, cancer, dementia, and lung disease. Smoking is also the biggest driver of health inequalities across the city.

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iverpool's Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing, and Culture, Councillor Harry Doyle, said:- "Smoking is a major health risk, with studies estimating that the average smoker loses about 50 days of life for every year they continue the habit. However, it's never too late to quit. Within just 1 year of stopping smoking, ex-smokers reduce their risk of heart attack, heart disease, or stroke by 50 percent. Quitting smoking is 1 of the most effective steps anyone can take to improve their health and well-being.'"

Director of Public Health Professor Matthew Ashton stresses the importance of patience and encouragement when supporting someone who's trying to quit smoking. Matt said:- "On average it can take smokers up to 30 attempts before they successfully quit. Support and encouragement massively increase the chance of success. Our message is that smokers should never stop attempting to give up smoking cigarettes and moving themselves towards a smokefree future."