Access last week attended the 15th birthday of disability access charity Attitude Is Everything (AIE).

The event, which took place at Bethnal Green’s Rich Mix on 18 May, saw the charity’s founder and Access‘ 2015 Editor’s Award-winner Suzanne Bull MBE give an emotional speech about AIE’s progress to date.

Festival Republic’s managing director Melvin Benn also spoke at the event, announcing a 35% increase in his company’s donation to the charity.

“15 years ago, Suzanne and others were justifiably frustrated with the lack of attention disabled people were getting from the music industry, and we wouldn’t be where we are today without their hard work,” he said. “The industry didn’t know how to tackle access and we needed guidelines. The way that organisations have followed this work has helped change society.”

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