If you're trying to create an accessible campsite or learn more about how to welcome disabled guests, check out the free resources below for practical hints and tips, and to expand your knowledge.

Visit England tools

We highly recommend the Visit England Toolkits that were released in December 2023.  

• Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Toolkit for Businesses
• Visit Britain Accessibility Webinar (2020): an introduction to Accessible Tourism with Ross Calladine, Accessibility and Inclusion Lead at Visit England; Chris Veitch, accessible tourism consultant; and Martin Sibley, author, adventurer and co-founder of Purple Goat
• Dementia-Friendly Tourism Guide offering support and advice on how to make your business welcoming and inclusive to those living with dementia
• Awareness Training from Visit Birmingham: Free Accessible Tourism Awareness Training 

Communicating well: Language dos and don’ts

If you or your team are worried about saying the wrong thing, check the resources below for guidance on inclusive and respectful language to use when discussing accessibility and disability:

• Level the Playing Field has several guides including definitions of disability, disability words and language, and ettiquette for interacting with the disability community
• The UK Government inclusive language guide
• The Business Disability Forum disability smart language guide
• British Dyslexia Association has a Dyslexia-Friendly Style Guide

Grant funding for accessibility improvements

It is possible to recieve grant funding from public bodies and NGOs to make accessibility improvements for your business. The examples provided below are not an exhaustive list, and new funds become available regularly, so make sure to check funding bodies directly for the most recent information. 

If your business is based in the UK, there are several regional and local funds available such as the North York Moors Accessibility Grant, and the Westmorland & Furness Council’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and Rural England Prosperity Fund.

These funds are often only open for a short period of time, regularly check your local council, community network or destination marketing organisation, such as Visit Yorkshire, for the lastest opportunities. 

If your business is located in a European Commission member state, you may be able to access funding through the below programme: 

Un Tourism,  Tourism for Rural Development Small Grants Programme: Open to NGOs, nonprofits and community groups. You may be eligable for this if you are one of the listed organisations, your site is staffed by volunteers, and/or your site has significant engagement with, and benefit to, the local community. 

European Commission, European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Open until 2027, this fund for various projects including conservation, renovation, updating visitor information, and leisure, recreational and sports facilities.

Disability-focused tourism organisations  

• Tourism for All: a non-profit organisation that provides online information to help disabled travellers make informed choices. Services for businesses include staff training, travel planner listings, top tips and Q&As for businesses
• European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT): a non-profit that brings together tourism organisations from across Europe to share experiences, learn, collaborate and create tourism products that are accessible to all
• Scope: a charity that exists to create a fair and equal world for disabled people. Learn about the Social Model of Disability [video] and explore more of Scope’s work and the Social Model of Disability.

Your obligations as a tourism business and duty of care

The resources below will help you understand the obligations UK tourism businesses have to serve the needs of disabled guests.

• The Equality Act 2010: An Introduction
• What is disability discrimination? Equality Law: Discrimination Explained
• Visit Britain: The Pink Book. Learn more about your duty of care as a tourism business owner. This book gives you clear guidance and practical information on the legislation that affects you.