Naidex 2023: What To Do And Explore

Maxine JohnsonFebruary 17, 2024

0 0 4 minutes read

To celebrate its 50th birthday, this year’s Naidex is set to be the best one yet. With Village Green sessions from Mr. Cookfulness to Music Man Project and Main Stage sessions from Paralympian Ellie Simmonds OBE to actor Tommy Jessop, there’s something for everyone.

Plus, the Disability Horizons Marketplace will be BACK with a whole host of affordable adaptive products for you to take away.

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Naidex 2023 has a star-studded line-up of guest speakers and performers for you to enjoy over the two-day event, which takes place on the 22nd and 23rd of March at the NEC, Birmingham.

To open the show on the Main Stage, you can hear from five-time Paralympic Champion and fourteen-time World Champion Ellie Simmonds.

She will share her journey from her rise to fame – being the youngest person ever to win a Paralympic medal – all the way to her recent success on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing. Don’t miss the talk from 11am to 11:45am on 22nd March on the Main Stage.

Other guests who will be sharing their stories and answering your questions will include:

Tommy Jessop – an actor with Down’s syndrome, best known for playing Terry Boyle in the award-winning police drama Line of Duty – 12:30pm to 1pm, 22nd March, Main Stage
Samantha Renke – actor, presenter and disability activist with Brittle Bones disease – 2pm to 2:30pm, 22nd March, Main Stage

Shani Dhandi – disability inclusion & accessibility specialist, social entrepreneur and broadcaster with Brittle Bones disease – 2:45pm to 3:15pm, 22nd March, Main Stage
Naidex Comedy Hour – watch some live comedy from two outstanding comedians with cerebral palsy, Aaron Simmonds and Lost Voice Guy (Lee Ridley) – 3:30pm to 4:30pm, 22nd March, Main Stage
Lauren Steadman – Paralympic athlete and broadcaster with an upper-limb difference – 11am to 11:30am, 23rd March, Main Stage

Steve Thompson – former England rugby player diagnosed with early onset dementia – 11:45am to 12:15pm, 23rd March, Main Stage
Charlie Beswick – mother to autistic teenage twin boys, author and blogger – 11:45am to 12:15pm, 23rd March, Lifestyle and Leisure area

There are many other events for you to watch and take part in throughout the two days.

There will be a panel discussion about managing money and finding financial support, taking place from 12:30pm to 1:15pm on 22nd March at the Lifestyle and Leisure area.

The following day, at the same time and area, there will be another panel discussion about creating a future for adaptable and accessible fashion.

There will also be a session on “Travelling with a disability: accessing an inclusive future”, which will be hosted by a group of accessible travel experts including Consultant at Purple Tuesday Becki Morris, Marketing Manager at AccessAble Carrie-Ann Lightly and CEO of Passenger Assist Jay Shen. It will take place from 12:30pm to 1:15pm on 23rd March on the Main Stage.

You can check out the full agenda for Naidex 2023 and plan your visit now.

Village Green

The Village Green is returning for its second year. It is like a mini fete or festival. Think bunting, tasty snacks and a lot of merriment.

It will have a whole host of activities and performances that you can get involved in or simply watch, including:

Live Performance and Dance workshop: Born to Perform – Born to Perform is an inclusive performing arts school, which received the iconic Golden Buzzer from David Walliams on Britain’s Got Talent in 2022 – 12pm to 1pm, 22nd March
Dips, Crumbles & Crumbs – Ian Taverner (Mr Cookfulness), is back bringing us accessible, flexible and fun cooking for everyone – 1:20pm to 2:05pm, 22nd March and 12pm to 12:45pm, 23rd March

Inclusive Dance and Performance with Kate Stanforth Academy of Dance – join in a fun inclusive dance session led by Kate Stanforth – 2:45pm – 3:30pm, 22nd March
Football taster session with special guests from Arsenal Football Club and The Albion Foundation  - have a tryout of accessible football with support from the Arsenal Disabled Supporters Association – 11am to 11:45am, 23rd March
The Music Man Project – an international music education service for children and adults with learning disabilities – 1:15pm to 2pm, 23rd March

Wheelchair Basketball Taster Session with Make a Change – try out wheelchair basketball and learn skills – 11:30am to 3:15pm, 23rd March

Disability Horizons Marketplace

We are excited to say that we are partnering again with Naidex to bring the Disability Horizons Marketplace.

This is an area in Naidex where you can find affordable daily aids, tools and resources to take home with you from the event.

The Disability Horizons online shop was launched three years ago with the aim to achieve two things:

To sell invaluable products that help to make the lives of disabled people easier and empower them to live the life they choose.

Support disabled inventors, entrepreneurs and business owners, selling innovative products that truly help to change the lives of disabled people.

Now, we are bringing the Disability Horizons online shop to the real world at Naidex, highlighting brilliant products that have a genuinely positive impact and cost as little as £5.

This, sitting alongside the Village Green and guest speakers, is sure to bring fun this spring, and we can’t wait for you to return! Plus, Naidex is better shared, so feel free to bring your friends, family, and carers/PAs along!

Join us at stand B34, and find Active Hands, Buckingham Healthcare, FreshWipes and the Helping Hand Company.

Naidex 2023 Exhibitors

In addition to guest speakers, performances and the Disability Horizons Marketplace, there will be more than 100 other disability-related exhibitors for you to meet over the two days, including publications, charities, social enterprises, care providers, technology companies, wheelchair, mobility aid and vehicle suppliers and much more.

Check out the full list of Naidex 2023 Exhibitors.