ACCESSIBILITY INFO

We are pleased to be working with Nimbus Disability, utilising their Access Card Scheme to provide a more streamlined process to communicate your access needs for Y Not. The Access Card is a universal way of conveying your access requirements and makes use of 9 different, easy to understand symbols that discreetly highlight the barriers you face and the reasonable adjustments you may need. You can read more about the symbols and how they are allocated by the Nimbus Disability team here.

Nimbus offers two different options:

1. A free ‘Y Not Digital Access Pass’ that can be used specifically to apply for accessible facilities at Y Not Festival which lasts for 3 years. 
2. A £15 physical Access Card that can be used at various other festivals, venues and attractions across the UK

If you haven’t already got an Access Card, you can apply for one here. 

If you already have an Access Card, you do not need to apply again. See below for information on what to do next.  

Y Not is committed to building an event that is as accessible as possible and we want to ensure we can understand and effectively meet the diverse needs of our access community. By working with Nimbus Disability and their recognised and award-winning Access Card Scheme we believe we can provide a more consistent and reliable way to assess and accommodate the access requirements of the Y Not community.

The Access Card is a universal way of conveying your access requirements and makes use of 9 different, easy to understand symbols that discreetly highlight the barriers you face and the reasonable adjustments you may need.

We then work in collaboration with Nimbus Disability to map these symbols against the accessible facilities that we have available on site.

If you’re planning to attend Y Not and require access support, you must complete our application process in advance.

In order to begin the application process you must first have both:

• A Nimbus Access Card or a free Y Not Digital Access Pass
• A valid Y Not festival ticket.

Once you have both of the above, you must then complete the Y Not Access Application Form.

Please make sure you enter your personal details on the application form exactly as they appear on your ‘Y Not Digital Access Pass’ or Nimbus Access Card. This includes the spelling of your name(s). If they don’t match exactly, it may delay your application being processed.

Each accessibility customer wishing to apply for the use of accessible facilities should submit an individual application. Please do not include more than one person per application. This helps us to ensure that everyone in your group gets the facilities they require.

Please note that our accessible facilities are unable to cater for people with temporary impairments. A temporary impairment is anything that affects an individual for less than 12 months such as broken bones, healing injuries or pregnancy. If you have a question relating to a temporary impairment then please contact hello@ynotfestival.com

The festival site is in the Peak District, on hilly farmland with some areas of short, compacted grass and some areas with longer grass.

There is a hard standing pathway leading from the Access Car Park, Access Campsite and Access Live-in Vehicle Campsite to the Main Arena. Some hard standing pathways and pedestrian routes throughout the festival site have loose gravel.

The Access Campsite is one of the flattest areas of the festival site, in other areas the terrain has some relatively steep inclines.

Ground conditions will be weather dependent. In very hot or dry conditions the pathways can be dusty and after rainfall some areas of ground will become muddy when wet.

We offer complimentary Essential Companion tickets to those who require them. In order to qualify, you must have the +1 symbol on your access Access cardCard or Digital Access Pass. Essential Companion tickets are intended to be used by people who are genuinely attending to provide support to an access customer, who wouldn’t otherwise be able to attend without an essential companion. 

We recognise that some applicants may not need an Essential Companion when attending, for example, the theatre or an amusement park. However, when camping for a weekend, building tents, carrying luggage and negotiating difficult terrain, an Essential Companion would be required. This specific adjustment is captured within the Nimbus application process and is called a ‘Festival +1’.  

In order to obtain an Essential Companion ticket, you just need to apply through the application process above. From there, our team will assess your Access Card/Digital Access Pass and send you a link to book your Essential Companion ticket.

Please do not purchase a ticket for your Essential Companion as these cannot be refunded.

The Essential Companion must be willing and able to assist the accessibility customer they are there to support throughout the entirety of Y Not, including in the unlikely event of an emergency. It is expected that the Essential Companion is able to assist the access customer with navigating the festival site, using the onsite facilities and carrying luggage in and out of the festival. Essential Companions must be over the age of 16.

Both the access customer and Essential Companion will need to arrive together on-site in order to collect their wristbands.

For Under 16s

If you are applying for an Essential Companion ticket on behalf of a child under the age of 16, you must also have a valid adult weekend camping ticket on your order. The reason for this is that anyone attending Y Not under the age of 16 would be required to be accompanied by a parent or guardian over the age of 18.

If a child requires the support of an Essential Companion in addition to the support of their parent or guardian and has the requisite +1 symbol on their Access Card or Digital Access Pass, an additional ticket can be applied for via the standard application process.

Essential Companion FAQs   

lease do not purchase a ticket for your Essential Companion as these cannot be refunded.  

The Essential Companion must be willing and able to assist the accessibility customer they are there to support throughout the entirety of Y Not, including in the unlikely event of an emergency. It is expected that the Essential Companion is able to assist the access customer with navigating the festival site, using the onsite facilities and carrying luggage in and out of the festival. Essential Companions must be over the age of 16.   

Both the access customer and Essential Companion will need to arrive together on-site in order to collect their wristbands.  

We offer a dedicated Campsite with Accessible Facilities. To stay here, you must complete the Access Request Form.

This campsite includes:

• Dedicated Entrance & Accessible Camping Info Point
• Accessible Toilets & Showers
• A Changing Places unit
• 24 hour Covered Charging Point – for mobility scooters and medical facilities. Whilst this facility is supervised, it is not secured by the festival and therefore left at your own risk. Unless you have arranged this in advance, we are unable to provide power to non-essential medical equipment
• Fridge for Medication Storage

Access to these facilities is based on the symbols on your Access Card or Digital Access Pass.

If approved for the Campsite with Accessible Facilities, you well be entitled to a 5mx6m pitch for tents or a 7mx7m for live in vehicles (You will have the ability to purchase your live in extra once approved). This limit helps ensure we can offer space to as many guests as possible.

You are also welcome to stay in the other campsites (General Camping, VIP Camping, Boutique, Pre-Pitched Camping, Live-Ins etc) if you prefer, though facilities may vary.

Accessible parking passes are available for purchase for anyone who has been approved for Accessible Parking on the application form. Your digital parking pass will be emailed to you no earlier than two weeks before the festival.

Please note: Accessible parking spaces are limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

Key Info:

Each approved customer can receive one accessible parking pass.

Blue Badge holders do not automatically qualify for accessible parking – this must be requested through the Access Request Form.

If your festival ticket already includes a parking pass (i.e., Premium Glamping), you’ll still need to request accessible parking through the application form to ensure we issue the correct one.

Friends or family arriving in separate cars will need to use General Parking, as the Accessible Car Park is only for registered accessibility customers.

We have accessible toilets at every toilet block in the Main Arena, as well as within the Campsite with Accessible Facilities.

You don’t need to contact us ahead of time to use any of these toilets. Please just be aware that the accessible toilets located on our viewing platforms are reserved for guests who have been approved for platform access, but there are other accessible toilets nearby for anyone who needs them.

Within the Campsite with Accessible Facilities, you’ll find a wheelchair-accessible shower for guests who have been approved to make use of these facilities. Essential Companions should only make use of the Accessible Showers if they’re assisting their companion. To make sure this facility is available for those who rely on it, we ask that friends and family staying in the campsite don’t use this shower themselves and make use of the other shower facilities on site.

We offer a fully equipped changing unit within the Campsite with Accessible Facilities. This features a hoist and changing bed, providing a safe and dignified space for guests who need to  them.

We have two wheelchair-accessible viewing platforms – at the Main Stage and The Quarry, plus a ground-level viewing area at the Main Stage. These spaces are there to support access customers who use wheelchairs or may find long periods of standing difficult.

To make sure these areas remain comfortable and available for those who genuinely need them, they’re reserved for approved access customers and their essential companion. We’re not able to accommodate larger groups in these spaces.

Access to viewing areas is offered on a first-come, first-served basis, and platforms can get busy at peak times. If a platform reaches capacity, you may be asked to wait or return a little later. During busier moments, companions might also be asked to stand towards the sides or back so that seated spots remain available for those who need them most.

Our stewarding team will check accreditation on entry and are always on hand to help. Each platform includes seating, an accessible toilet, and wheelchair charging points to make your experience as comfortable as possible.

Some stages can’t support viewing platforms due to their size or layout, but if that’s the case, our security team will be happy to help you find a safe and suitable place to watch.

If you need to bring prescription medication to the festival, please make sure it’s in its original packaging and accompanied by a prescription or doctor’s note in your name that confirms the medication.

We also offer refrigerated medical storage in the Campsite with Accessible Facilities. If you require chilled storage, just let us know in your access application.

Please inform us on your application form if you need to bring an assistance dog to Y Not. If you are approved, you will need to follow these guidelines:

• Assistance dogs must wear a working jacket
• Owners are responsible for their dog’s behaviour and must dispose of waste appropriately. A dedicated spending area for dogs will be provided – details will be shared closer to the festival
• Please note: Y Not reserves the right to refuse entry or eject dogs that don’t meet the behavioural requirements for an assistance animal or fail to follow these guidelines.

At many of the bars across site we have lowered bar counters for wheelchair users. If a bar does not have a lowered bar counter, when appropriate, a member of staff will be able to come around from the bar to take your order and assist you.

What if I don’t want to apply for an Access Card?  

Y Not operates an Access Card first approach to access applications. However, if you would prefer not to apply for an Access Card you can still apply for access facilities at Y Not. Please email access@ynotfestival.com and our team will advise you on next steps.