Disability Festival in the Park: Engagement Report

Report - 15 October 2025

As north east London’s only fully accessible festival and one of a small number of festivals of its kind across the country, the Disability Festival is a unique opportunity to speak with disabled Londoners about their experiences.

Engagement opportunities like the annual Disability Festival in the Park allow us to better understand general themes in the care people receive and identify areas for further investigation.

Healthwatch Redbridge joined local community organisations, One Place East, Colours of Redbridge, Redbridge Forum, WEL Enterprises, Catholic Fellowship Disability Network and Snaresbrook Arts Project, on the steering group which is supported by Vision Redbridge Culture and Leisure, and Redbridge Council. 

What we heard

At the festival, we asked attendees to tell us about their experiences with different services, how they feel when they attend appointments, and how they think services could improve. We heard both positive and negative comments, with the positive feedback helping to illustrate what people value in their care as much as the criticisms. 

Both positive and negative comments focused on staff attitudes, with staff being praised for being friendly, while concerns were raised about dismissive attitudes, with comments stating, “they don’t listen” and suggestions that training in “patience and understanding” could improve services. For patients, having their concerns taken seriously and their experiences validated by the professional they see is key to the quality of their care.

Disability Festival in the Park: Engagement Report

Download the report
Download (PDF 3 MB)

Protect and strengthen independent services that give the public a voice 

We think trusted independent services that listen to local communities are essential to improving health and social care. We listen without fear or favour and reach those whose voices are often ignored.

Help us to protect and strengthen independence by signing and sharing the petition asking the government to review its decision to abolish local Healthwatch. 

You might also be interested in

Women's Health Project

The government published a Women’s Health Strategy in 2022. One of the strategies commitments is to examine the effectiveness of a national campaign to encourage more women to take up cervical screening tests. Some national women’s health charities have found that uptake can be lower in minority ethnic women, or there can be specific barriers for women with disabilities.
Find out more