What is a personal assistant/companion?
A personal assistant (PA) or companion is somebody who accompanies you to a venue or festival to assist you with your access requirements. Many Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent people need help and support in their day to day lives, including at venues or festivals. This person can be unpaid, such as a friend or family member, or someone employed by you. Either way, their role is to support your access needs.
Whether a companion is paid or unpaid, it isn’t fair to expect a disabled person who cannot attend alone due to their access needs to purchase two tickets. So, it can be a reasonable adjustment for a venue or festival to provide an additional ticket, so that you have the support and assistance that you need.
Terms
We use the term ‘personal assistant’ or ‘companion’.
Sometimes, the term ‘carer’ is used. This is more commonly used in settings where personal care may be involved. However, not all disabled people are comfortable with this term.
So, it’s just a “free” ticket for being disabled?
No. When an event provides a PA or companion ticket at no extra cost, it is with the expectation that your personal assistant or companion will provide you with the assistance that you need, without which you may not be able to take part in the event. It is brilliant if your personal assistant also gets to enjoy the festival too, but, first and foremost, they are there to support you.
This is why we talk about PA and companion tickets as being “at no extra cost” rather than “free”. The idea of a “free ticket” can make it harder for a PA or companion to understand their essential role and responsibility in supporting your needs.
Most people – disabled or otherwise – prefer going to gigs and festivals with other people. However, the purpose of a PA or companion ticket isn’t to stop you going on your own, but to ensure that people who need support on-site have the help that they need.
Do I need a personal assistant or companion?
This is something you need to decide. We’d recommend that you think about:
- Are there tasks that you need help with in your daily life that you could not do on your own?
- What environmental factors would you need additional support with? For example, do you need additional support to navigate new, busier or weather-exposed environments?
- Is there a risk that you will become distressed or disorientated at a busy event to a point that you need support, or need reminding to eat, drink, or take medication?
- Does the amount of support that you need mean that the person supporting you would have restrictions around their time or choices to enjoy the venue or festival?
Who can be a personal assistant?
Your personal assistant might be a friend, a family member, your partner, or a professional carer or support worker. What is essential is that they understand your access requirements and are willing to assist you, and that they are someone who you feel comfortable accepting assistance from.
What can I expect from my personal assistant?
A personal assistant should carry out any tasks that you need them to do in order to enjoy the gig or festival. Different people will need different things, but a PA might help you to:
- Carry your belongings
- Set up your tent
- Get around the event
- Buy food or drink and/or remind you that you need to do so
- Understand information or to communicate
- Carry out any medical procedures or treatment that you need
- Wash, get dressed or go to the toilet
- Be safe in an emergency
- Find your way around the site
Not everyone needs their personal assistant with them at all times – especially at a multi-day festival – but your PA should be around when you need them, be able to be contacted, and always be willing to come and find you if they need to.
You can decide if you are comfortable with your PA drinking alcohol whilst they are with you, but they should not get too intoxicated to assist you.
What shouldn’t a personal assistant do?
A personal assistant should not do anything that makes you feel uncomfortable or unsafe at an event. This can include:
- Leaving you on your own when you don’t want to be
- Refusing to help or making you feel guilty when you ask them to do so
- Belittling you or making you feel and about yourself
- Making decisions for you and not letting you explain what you need
- Getting intoxicated to a point where they cannot assist you
If you would like more advice on choosing a personal assistant and setting expectations, you can read our guidance below.