The Events Industry Forum (EIF) has announced that in the first ten years of its Purple Guide Grants Scheme it has supported 24 outdoor event projects with £318,000 of funding.

EIF operates as a not-for-profit organisation, allocating money raised from Purple Guide subscriptions to the grants programme to fund projects.

“We’re very proud that the Purple Guide Grants have enabled a hugely diverse range of projects to help develop the industry over the past decade,” said EIF chair Steve Heap. “It’s been a pleasure to be part of the team with the EIF board, which has been diligent in selecting recipients that reflect a breadth of activities encompassing socio-economic impact practices, research projects, sustainability, welfare and accessibility.

“We hope to continue to help organisations navigate future opportunities and challenges for the betterment of the outdoor events sector.”

Among the grant recipients is Attitude is Everything, whose interim head of live events access said, “We’re incredibly grateful to EIF for their invaluable support. Thanks to their Purple Guide Grant funding, we’ve made real strides in improving access to festivals and community events.

“We have delivered training to 165 event organisers, contributed new accessibility guidance for the Purple Guide, and built stronger connections across the industry. We were proud to provide our Disability Equality training to 41 community event organisers, around 25% of attendees, empowering them in their roles.

“We also worked with three major festival organisers, allowing us to showcase the importance of our work in the live music sector. I authored the new Purple Guide chapter to set access standards across the industry, covering five key areas including policies, marketing and communication, and production.

“With The Purple Guide Grant investment, we have given confidence to event organisers to create more inclusive experiences for disabled audiences, artists, and workers. We’re excited to keep building on this momentum and look forward to the lasting impact of this work. Thank you for being part of it!”

The next round of Purple Guide Grants funding applications will close on 1 October.

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