Newcastle Pride partners with Nexus to enhance accessibility for 2025

As part of its ongoing mission to make Pride even more inclusive, Newcastle Pride is teaming up with Nexus to champion accessibility for all. Nexus is Pride’s official travel and accessibility partner for 2025, underscoring the charity’s commitment to ensuring that everyone can enjoy this year’s festivities, regardless of ability.

The entire festival is fully wheelchair accessible, with all official Newcastle Pride partner venues equipped with step-free access and essential accessibility services, including disabled toilets. This extends to all festival zones and the Pride Arena, where AccessoLoo units will be available for those who require hoist and changing facilities.

Several partner venues will also offer quiet spaces, for those that need some time away from the celebrations.

To ensure everyone can experience the magic of the weekend’s performances, British Sign Language interpreters (BSL) will be present at Main Stage, Curious Arts Stage and Trans+ Cabaret performances. Full details of all BSL services will be announced within the programme for this year’s event.

New for 2025 is the Trans+ zone, a vibrant and empowering space designed to celebrate and support the region’s trans and non-binary communities. By day, the zone will act as a collaborative space for attendees to take part in some hands-on activities, speak with trans specific support agencies and charities and meet new friends. As night falls, the zone transforms with a dazzling showcase of Trans+ cabaret performed on the iconic Alphabetti stage.

In response to the growing popularity of the festival, Newcastle Pride will bring back its free shuttle bus with thanks to Nexus. Running throughout Saturday’s main day, the service will connect key locations across the city, making it even easier for festivalgoers to experience everything this year’s celebration has to offer.

Cathy Massarella, Managing Director of Nexus, said: “We’re thrilled to be the transport and accessibility partner for this year’s Newcastle Pride Festival.

“Inclusivity is the cornerstone of our brand, right across the communities that we serve. We are looking forward to customers travelling with us for the Newcastle Pride festival. Metro is a great way to get to and from this brilliant event.

“Accessibility has always been a core value for us, and we are passionate about creating a transport system where customers can feel safe, comfortable and encouraged to be themselves, celebrating individuality and identity, free from discrimination.

“These values are echoed throughout our organisation, and we are proud to be an inclusive and accessible employer, with a commitment to diversity, inclusion and dignity in the workplace, and have policies in place to ensure our colleagues that identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community are supported and protected.”

Ste Dunn, Director of Northern Pride, said: “Ensuring that Newcastle Pride is an inclusive and safe space has always been at the top of the agenda, as we want to create an environment that is truly welcoming for everyone who wishes to attend.

“Through our wonderful partnership with Nexus we are committed to removing any barriers that might prevent someone from attending, and helping to make sure Pride is a space where all people feel valued, supported and free to be themselves.”