On the 18th of March 2026, I once again got up at 5 a.m. to make the journey across to Warwick Arts Centre (WAC). This time, I did my morning routine the same as I always do. I had a bath the night before so that I was not late. When I woke up, I had a wet-wipe wash to make sure I was clean, and I took my medication and had scrambled eggs, cracker bread, and toast for breakfast. I was very nervous about delivering this session because it was the session that meant the most to Warwick Arts Centre. It was the session they most wanted to focus on, so I wanted it to go well and do the delivery justice for them. As I was very nervous, I had my favourite breakfast, which was the above. This is because it is a comforting and familiar food to me, so it makes my morning less scary, and it helps me feel safe.
I had written a list of what I needed the night before and reviewed it again before I left because I still somehow nearly forgot to pack a work top, pants and socks for the next day, it was a good thing I looked really. This training session was going to be a little different to the others because I was staying overnight in a hotel in Coventry city centre. I was going to the Climb 26 Warwick Tour the next day on March 19th but you will hear all about that in another blog.
I left the house at 07.30am and I got on the bus. The bus was packed full of school children so I sat at the front. I found it challenging because one child kept singing repetitive nursery rhymes over and over again which caused pain in my ears. I was relieved to get off the bus at the train station and I got on the 08.30am train to Birmingham.
This train journey was a good one and I was able to sit in first class and sleep until Birmingham so I recovered some energy. I then made the transfer at Birmingham onto the Coventry train. On that train I actually had the energy to chat to a passenger who was an employee of Network Rail. He asked me why I was going to Coventry and I happily told him about our access training course and delivering at Warwick Arts Centre. He was incredibly friendly and funny so I was thankful to him for making that train journey entertaining, with interesting conversation and not small talk that I struggle with so much. I really don’t care what time your shifts are or about who is dating who. I wish I had asked him what his name was but anyway this is my way of thanking him for an entertaining train journey. Once I got off the train I walked round to the Coventry station bus stand at the back of the station. I never knew that was there until recently. Coventry seems to change every time I visit. A man told me I “had too many bags” as I walked past and I wondered why it mattered to him so much that he felt the need to make that statement to me. I have the bags that are the correct amount for me and him saying that won’t change the outcome so I wondered what the point of it was. I ignored his remark and continued on my way.
I walked to Sainsbury’s and bought some lunch then I waited for ages at the bus station but I found it was about the same price to get a taxi directly to Warwick Arts Centre so I did that. The sun was shining on this beautiful Wednesday and it made me feel happier knowing that it is Ostara on the 21st of March. Spring is truly on the way. Ostara is the celebration of the spring equinox of fertility and the light returning and it certainly did that on this day.
The taxi driver very kindly parked as close as possible to Warwick Arts Centre so I did not have far to walk with my luggage. This saved my spine much aggravation so I was grateful. When I got inside the building it was quiet at first. I then saw Bethany and a colleague sitting working so they watched my things for me whilst I went to the bathroom. It was nice to see them and we had a quick chat but I did not want to disturb them from their work. The building gradually got a lot busier than the last time as it was a little bit later this time when I arrived. I had to contend with the sound of someone playing the piano and although he was playing nicely and very well it was on top of a group of staff speaking and a gentleman sitting next to me on his phone and cracking his knuckles and I hate that sound, so I struggled with the amount and variety of sounds. Whilst I waited for Liz to arrive at 11.30 I decided to put my ear plugs in, do some work and have a slice of birthday cake that I had left over from my birthday celebration with my family at the weekend.
Liz arrived and we had a chat about how we felt the project was going and about our weekends generally. We had lunch and then we called the Duty manager to let us into the Helen Martin space. We set up the laptop and the technology and by the time we had another bathroom break the learners began to arrive.
As always we had a fantastic session with really supportive learners and the management team. Today we discussed how to hear Neurodivergent voices and how to hear the voices of any guests who attend Warwick Arts Centre. We role played a focus group where we discussed current barriers to gathering and actioning feedback and what needed to be put in place to make the process easier. We had such an in depth discussion that time vanished quickly as always and before I knew it we were designing session four and giving feedback on how this session went.
Once the training was over I felt relief that I had achieved the objectives that WAC wanted to achieve for this session. I was pleased with the feedback one learner gave that she had started to include break out spaces as standard practice rather than waiting for someone to ask for them as a result of our training. I felt proud of myself that I was able to design this session and build it from the feedback given at the last session one month ago and I was pleased with the standard of delivery.
Liz walked me to the bus stands and helped me carry my things and we reflected on the session as we said goodbye. I then challenged myself to get a taxi to find my hotel in Coventry city centre where I had my dinner waiting for me and a well deserved celebration cider.
I wanted to thank the learners for their continued engagement in the sessions and I cannot believe that we only have three more sessions left to deliver at WAC. I particularly wanted to thank visitor experience manager Bethany Evans for supporting us to set up the space, printing out materials for us and encouraging learners to engage with the process outside of the training sessions. I wanted to thank Liz for all that she does and her invaluable knowledge and years of access and inclusion experience. The project would not be the same without her. Also thank you to Open Theatre Company and Arts Council England for helping us to make the Alternative Voices Theatre Company Access by design, Accessibility training a reality.
