Euan's Guide

04/04/2026

Your nominations for venues that prove accessibility and design excellence go hand-in-hand are needed! ⭐

At Euan’s Guide, we’re always looking for venues that go the extra mile to make everyone feel welcome. That’s why we’re proud to support the Blue Badge Access Awards 2026, an event that celebrates the best in stylish, thoughtful accessibility. After our founder, Euan MacDonald MBE, was named Access Champion of the Year 2025, we’re eager to see who will be recognised this year.

The awards ceremony, themed “Rights of Passage,” will take place on Thursday 30 April at the Rooftop Bar, South Place Hotel in London. It will be a night of live music, great food, and the celebration of venues that prove accessibility and design excellence can go hand in hand.

Cast your vote before nominations close tomorrow, Sunday 5 April

Blue Badge Access Awards coming soon! Enter now before the ceremony on 30th April

03/04/2026

Friday afternoon pick-me-up....We're hiring! 😃

Volunteering is at the core of everything we do and we are now looking for a Volunteer Lead to help us take our volunteering programme to the next level.

This is a strategic, fixed-term role focused on reviewing and overhauling Euan’s Guide’s volunteering infrastructure across Scotland. Rather than just delivering activities, this role is about building the systems, pathways and frameworks that will allow our volunteer programme to grow sustainably, deepen its impact and extend its reach into rural and remote communities.

This is an exciting opportunity to make a real and lasting difference to how disabled people across Scotland can access the information they need to live independently and participate fully in society.

If this sounds like the role for you, we look forward to hearing from you. Find out more 👉

Could you be our new Volunteer Lead?

03/04/2026

Ahead of we explored some accessible venues in Birmingham as suggested by Euan's Guide users.

Watch to see where we got to and consider leaving your own disabled access review at Euansguide.com

Video description: Joe and Molly, who are wheelchair users, explore Birmingham, speaking by Ozzy the Bull at Birmingham New Street. Joe is wearing a grey Euan’s Guide hoodie, and Molly is wearing a green Euan’s Guide hoodie with a teal Euan’s Guide hat. They travel by tram, visit the Library of Birmingham and the Exchange, then return to New Street Station to conclude the video.

31/03/2026

Research survey call out! 📊

Lead Scotland are looking for disabled people, neurodiverse people, blind or visually impaired people, D/deaf people or people who have long term physical or mental health conditions to complete a short survey, telling them about their experiences with cyber crime and online safety 📱

The survey has 22 questions, and will take about 15 minutes to complete ✔️

You don't need to have had an experience with cyber crime to complete the survey.

Be quick - the survey closes today, Tuesday 31 March 📅

Take part https://www.lead.org.uk/2026/03/10/cyber-research/



Image description: A graphic design in Euan's Guide branding with text reading please give your feedback on cyber crime and online safety

25/03/2026

“The Time Tax is, to most, an invisible thing that doesn't exist, but to me it's a significant burden - I need to have extra time, use up extra energy, and usually a cost penalty to enjoy a reasonable life. Even close friends still do not understand how stressful it can be to go out or be spontaneous. Late changes to venues for a social function that I have been looking forward to can cause anxiety, unnecessary stress, and extra planning and cost.

“As my Dad always said, measure it twice and cut it once, so it's all about getting it ready and planned out in advance. I always allow myself extra time, as I’d rather be ready or get somewhere early than be rushing and getting worked up so I don't enjoy the experience.

“I used to get very angry, bitter and stressed about this, but that just made me and others around me unhappy."

- John, Access Survey respondent and Euan's Guide supporter

Read John's story https://buff.ly/FjL8uWL

This year’s Access Survey revealed the burden of the Accessibility Time Tax - we spoke to John, who explains how frustrating, time-consuming and draining he finds the Time Tax.

24/03/2026

1 more week to take part!

📢 Research survey call out – disabled, neurodiverse, blind or visually impaired, D/deaf participants

Lead Scotland are looking for disabled people, neurodiverse people, blind or visually impaired people, D/deaf people or people who have long term physical or mental health conditions to complete a short survey, telling us about their experiences with cyber crime and online safety.

- The survey has 22 questions, and will take about 15 minutes to complete.
- You DO NOT have to have had an experience with cyber crime to complete the survey.

The survey is open until 31st March 2026.

If you would like to take part in the research, please complete the survey which can be found here:
👉️ www.lead.org.uk/2026/03/10/cyber-research/

CyberScotland

23/03/2026

We are off to Birmingham tomorrow and we need your help!

We are looking for the best accessible spots in Brum and would love to hear your suggestions. Comment below and we might just pay your favourite place a visit.

We will also be at Naidex this week, where our Community Manager Joe will be taking part in a panel discussion in the Accessibility Hub at 11:50 on Wednesday.

Make sure to say hi if you see us.

[Image description: Joe sits in front of Ozzy, a large black and copper mechanical bull statue at Birmingham New Street Station, looking at the camera. He wears a grey Euan’s Guide hoodie and a blue Euan’s Guide beanie. The scene is framed by a yellow banner featuring the Euan’s Guide logo inside two green speech bubbles.]

19/03/2026

On Wednesday the 25th of March, we’ll be at Naidex, where our Community Manager Joe will join a panel discussion on the realities of accessibility in transport.

Find us in the Accessibility Hub at 11:50 for a lively conversation with Joe and fellow panellists Carrieann Lightley, Alex Papinkolaou, Marina Snellenberg, Laura Baker-Lacey and Xavier Mascarell.

We’ll also be exploring Birmingham the day before the event, so let us know your favourite places in Brum and we'll pay them a visit.

18/03/2026

Sharon's story: “What people don't realise is that this planning is not a single, linear process. It is a series of research layers, each dependent on the last. I cannot book a hotel until I know it has an accessible room with the right specifications. I cannot confirm the hotel until I know the nearest accessible tube station. I cannot plan the tube journey until I know whether the lifts are working... I have to build contingency plans into contingency plans. Every single outing involves this level of detail, and it never gets easier because venues change, websites update, and what was accessible last time may not be accessible next time.

“It is tiring, frustrating, and sometimes I just give up and decide not to go if it all gets too hard. But I want to be honest about what that phrase - 'give up and decide not to go' - actually costs me, because it is easy to say and hard to convey. Every time I make that decision, I am not just missing an event. I am losing something. A concert I was looking forward to. A meal out with my daughter. A trip to a museum or a gallery. These are not luxuries - they are the things that give life quality and meaning, particularly for someone who has had to give up a career they loved.”

- Sharon Docherty, Access Survey respondent and Euan Guide’s supporter

Over 80% of disabled people say the Accessibility Time Tax affects them with increased stress or anxiety – can you relate? 😟 And 85% said clear and accurate disabled access information would help reduce the extra time spent compared with non-disabled people.

Your experiences and opinions matter to us. That’s why we run the Access Survey every year – we want to share your stories and make your voices heard. This year’s survey revealed the burden of the Accessibility Time Tax, the impact of which is shared here by Sharon.

Read Sharon’s full story – and share your own experiences of disabled access – at www.EuansGuide.com

12/03/2026

"It is tiring, frustrating, and sometimes I just give up." 💔

Does this sound familiar? The Euan’s Guide Access Survey results, supported by the Motability Scheme, are out now, and they highlight the Accessibility Time Tax - the extra hours, stress, and research disabled people have to take on just to do everyday things like catching a train or visiting a shop.

The stats are startling:

📊 80% say checking accessibility increases their stress or anxiety
📊 47% have missed out on opportunities like events, travel and social plans
📊 85% say clear and accurate disabled access information would reduce the extra time

If you’re out and about, you can help by leaving an access review on Euan’s Guide so disabled people have the confidence to visit somewhere new.

We’re also asking businesses to do better. Did you know venues can list their disabled access for free on our website to reach tens of thousands of disabled people looking for accessible places to go?

Accessibility information shouldn't be a luxury - it's a necessity. Find out more at www.EuansGuide.com/AccessSurvey

Have you felt the Accessibility Time Tax this week? Share your thoughts below👇

10/03/2026

The Access Survey results will be revealed this Thursday at our first Access Survey webinar, with the Euan’s Guide team!

When: Thursday 12 March, 2pm UK time
Where: Zoom

Find out more and register https://buff.ly/jUSdcst

We know the best information comes from people who have actually been there, so we want you to continue to be part of the conversation.

Thanks again to everyone who took part in the 2025 Access Survey supported by the Motability Scheme.

We're hosting our first ever Access Survey webinar - and you're invited!