Gunnersbury Park
14.09.24

Accessibility

As a festival, each year we are continuing to assess our accessible facilities and are constantly striving to make the site and overall experience better for our deaf and disabled customers.

The following information provides details about the bookable accessible provisions at the festival. If you have any questions that are not answered below please contact accessibility@teamlove.org.

If you would you like to register to use of any of following accessible facilities:

  • Personal Assistant / Companion Ticket
  • Accessible Parking
  • Accessible Toilets
  • Lowered Bar Areas

Firstly, you will need to purchase a ticket in the usual way, (link here) and then complete the Accessibility Form by selecting the facilities you wish to use. You will also need to upload some supporting evidence along with your application. (Please read the form for details of suggested documents). Once you have submitted your form we will get back to you within two weeks to let you know if it has been approved.

Please note that submission of the form alone does not automatically guarantee eligibility for use of the accessible facilities. If you have any queries about eligibility, please contact us prior to purchasing your ticket at accessibility@teamlove.org.

If you require the form in an alternative format please contact us at accessibility@teamlove.org or call 0117 9411611.

Our accessible facilities will only be available to ticket holders who have pre-registered their requirements. This is to ensure that we have time to put appropriate provisions in place on site. Please complete the form no later than 10th of September. Information Packs will be sent out to anyone who has successfully registered during the week before the event.

Festival Site Information

Waterworks will take place on Gunnersbury Park this year. Gunnersbury Park is an open green-field site. It has some limited tarmac paths on the peripheral entrances and exits, however most of the space involves inclines and uneven terrain. While there will be some sheltered areas (some stalls and marquees), it is predominantly an open-air event. Ground conditions are therefore weather dependent, (if we experience extreme weather the ground may become muddy and the grass may well get churned up). This means that mobility across the site may become compromised. We ask you to consider this before purchasing a ticket.

Induction Loops

There will be an induction loop at the Accessibility Box Office.

British Sign Language (BSL) Interpreters

Due to the amount of time required to book performance interpreters for our shows, anyone wishing to have the BSL service needs to contact the accessibility team at least three months prior to the event to ensure there is enough time to put the appropriate provision in place. Please contact accessibility@teamlove.org for enquiries.

Assistance Dogs

We welcome assistance dogs on the site. There will be an area provided for toileting and drinking. Please let us know on your form if you are bringing one in advance of the event. To organise this please contact accessibility@teamlove.org.

Strobes

Please note that strobe effects may be used at this event. However, there will not be any specific announcements prior to their use.

Medical Services and Welfare Area

We have an onsite Medical Tent with trained First Aiders should customers need this service.

Welfare is an inclusive area manned by experienced staff who will support you if you need assistance. From sun cream to safety pins to safe space, the Welfare Tent is a place where you can come to rest, talk and be listened to. The welfare area has a Safe Space situated separately from the main Welfare Tent where you may receive confidential and secure support away from all others if this is what you need.

Please note: The disabled access facilities are for festival goers with permanent disabilities – pregnant women and people with recent injuries such as broken legs, hip replacements etc do not qualify.

Admission

Waterworks Festival is an over-18s event, we operate a challenge-25 policy, so be sure to bring your ID with you.

Please note there is no re-entry to the festival. Once you’re in, you’re in.

Prohibited Items

Please note, the following items are prohibited & will prevent entry to site:

  • Fireworks, laser pens, or flares
  • Alcohol, illicit drugs, or legal highs including nitrous oxides
  • Animals (with the exception of guide dogs)
  • Selfie sticks
  • Umbrellas
  • Glass
  • Cans
  • Hi Vis waistcoats, jackets or vests
  • Bicycles or scooters
  • Chairs
  • Food / Drink / Cool boxes / Picnic hampers
  • Pens or Paint
  • Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (aka Drones)
  • Any form of seating other than wheelchairs
  • Anything which could be considered an offensive weapon or could cause danger or nuisance.

Code of Conduct

Waterworks is—and always will be—for everyone, with all attending able to feel comfortable and safe whilst on-site. Please have a read of the below and remember to act with respect whilst attending Waterworks.

Don't be a Dick. Be nice to each other.

Practice respect & consent for everyone’s boundaries.

Don’t be a bystander.

Speak to our team if you feel unsafe or uncomfortable or if you see anything happening to someone else that doesn't feel right.

We will not tolerate any kind of harassment or disrespectful behaviour.

Remember to look after yourself and each other as this will help create a safe & friendly environment.

We support the Halt Harassment Campaign.

Our staff across site are briefed to support you with any incident and to take all appropriate action. They are there to help you, please speak to them if anyone is making you feel uncomfortable or unsafe.

Please be respectful of our neighbours and the park by ensuring you use the toilets and bins provided. We want to come back year on year and we need your help to do that by respecting the area and the people around us.

The park is still open to the general public as is the Sports Hub and Museum during both show days. Please respect the other park users, families and children.

Contact

To get in touch with us, please email: info@waterworksfestival.co.uk

Core Values

We are inspired by bringing together culture and community through festivals and events. We want our spaces to be inclusive of people from all backgrounds, diverse in output and a place where people can come together and share their knowledge, experience and culture in a space that is open and accessible for all.

Read our full Diversity & Inclusion statement.

Date, Time, Location

Saturday 14th September

Doors open: 12:00 Last Entry: 16:30 Close: 22:30

Site address: Gunnersbury Park, Popes Ln, London W3 8LQ

General

A Cashless Festival

We operate a cashless system across all the bars at Waterworks. Some traders may still accept cash payments, but please ensure you are able to pay on card or Apple / Google Pay before entering the site.

Reusable Cup Scheme

We will once again be running our reusable cup scheme across all bars. There will be a levy on your first cup - if you always bring your empty cup back to the bar, you won’t be charged again.

Lost Property

During the weekend, please go to the Info Tent if you lose or find something. If you need to contact us about lost property after the show, please email info@waterworksfestival.co.uk

Cloakroom

We will be running a cloakroom as usual, this can be found at the Info Tent. The cost per item is £5.

Food/Drink

We can’t allow attendees to bring their own food and drink into the venue. There will be plenty of reasonably-priced bars and traders on site providing a wide variety of refreshments all day long. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options will be available.

We encourage attendees to bring their own reusable water bottles, and there will be multiple water refilling stations around the site.

There should be food available to cater for most dietary requirements but please do check with each individual vendor in advance of purchasing food if you have particular requirements or allergies. If you have concerns or wish to speak with someone regarding a special dietary requirement which impacts your health, please contact accessibility@teamlove.org.

Gunnersbury Park is a metropolitan greenfield space, please make sure you dress for the weather and ground-conditions. Wear what you want, but please make sure your footwear is sensible.

My Cause Volunteers

Volunteer at festivals & raise money for a charity of your choice!

Volunteering is a gateway to making unforgettable friends while getting free entry to Waterworks Volunteering with My Cause UK means you become part of a community that is exciting, adventurous and passionate about making a change in the world we live in.

For more information & details on how to apply, head to the MyCause website.

Press

For press applications please contact dresden@themessage.love

Sustainability

Waterworks is committed to making our event more sustainable. Reducing the impact our festival has on the planet is a priority in every element of the festival - from planning and production sales and marketing. We want artists and festival-goers to arrive with an eco-conscious attitude and willingness to respect the site and our wider planet.

We view sustainability by the prism of its 3 pillars - Social, Economic, Environment. Having an intersectional approach to sustainability is essential to create a thriving ecosystem of local businesses, collaboration, circular economies and environmental awareness needed to tackle the current climate emergency. We engage ourselves to apply & promote a REFUSE - REDUCE - REUSE - REPURPOSE - RECYCLE mind frame in everything we do.

What can you do to help?

  • Bring a reusable water bottle
  • Recycle your waste in the appropriate bins
  • Eat at least one veggie meal onsite
  • Only use biodegradable glitters
  • Be kind, don’t be a bystander & Leave No Trace
  • What are we doing to make a difference?

We made 2021 our "Year Zero" to gain a clear understanding of our habits, patterns and impact on the environment. We will come back with a deeper strategy at the beginning of 2023 for our new event format at Gunnersbury Park.

We signed the Vision: 2025 pledge, an event industry initiative that aims to inspire events to measure their environmental impacts and reduce them by 50% by 2025. www.vision2025.org.uk

We hold some simple & key sustainable standards across site.

Environment

  • Calculate & Monitor our environmental impact
  • Use HVO fuel & Hybrid generators to power our site
  • Encouraged our traders to use organic, local & seasonal food
  • Discourage use of single-use plastic cups, cutlery, straws and food containers
  • Encourage refillable water bottle use for audience, crew and artists
  • Reusable cup deposit scheme available at bars
  • Assist artists in their conscious effort towards greener riders

Social

  • Book an inclusive and diverse line-up while investing in grassroots talents
  • Make our site as accessible as possible for all, working towards Attitude is Everything's Charter of Best Practice
  • Engage and partner with community and charity lead organisations
  • Support the “Safer Spaces” campaign from the AIF
  • Commit to create a safe, inclusive and fun environment for everyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, ability, mental health, sex, sexual orientation, gender and gender identity, political views, religious beliefs or appearance

Ticket Info

Our primary ticket agent is Resident Advisor. Any tickets bought via the Waterworks website or official social channels will have been booked through them. These will be sent direct to your email address as e-tickets. If you haven't received a confirmation email within 48 hours of purchase (and have checked they are not in your spam folder) please follow this link.

Please only buy tickets from authorised agents. Beware of touts and unauthorised ticket agents selling tickets as there is no guarantee of their authenticity. You will be refused entry if you attempt to use a counterfeit ticket. Please note that tickets are non-transferable.

Affordable Ticket Scheme We want to make our event as accessible as possible - please contact us if you would like to attend but are facing financial difficulties. Please contact info@waterworksfestival.co.uk for more information.

Traders

If you wish to apply for Waterworks 2023, then please contact traders@teamlove.org, be sure to include a picture of your stall, links to social media, menu, prices and details of other events you have participated in.

Please note, we only open applications to food traders, unfortunately we can’t take applications for shops.

Travel

There is no general public parking on the site. There will be road closures and parking exclusions in the surrounding area, so please come to the festival on foot, by bike or public transport.

There is an allocated drop off / pick up point a few minutes walk from the festival site for taxis / ubers. Please ensure your taxi driver uses the official drop off / pick up point next to the Gunnersbury Park Sports Hub and do not get dropped off in the surrounding residential streets

We have a limited amount of bike parking. If you would like to use it, please make sure you bring a lock. All bikes are left at owner’s risk.

Welfare

We will have a fully equipped Medical Centre on site that will be manned by qualified staff. Please make yourself aware of its location as you enter the festival. If you suspect somebody is unwell take him or her to the Medical Tent. If in severe cases they are not moving, please do not attempt to move them. Alert a Steward immediately who will call for the exact help needed.

If you take any medication regularly remember to bring it with you and make your friends aware of any illness or allergies you may have. Look after yourself and those around you.

The Welfare Tent is located right next to the Medical Centre. If you need to grab a quiet five minutes or just want someone to talk to, the Welfare Tent provides a safe and non-judgemental space to do this.

Residents

If any residents have any concerns regarding the event, please contact info@waterworksfestival.co.uk and someone will get back to you there.