Pure Innovations invites businesses to support return of Stockport’s Access Festival

Stockport-headquartered charity, Pure Innovations, has announced the 2026 date for its much-loved annual Access Festival and is inviting local businesses help bring the event to life.

The event highlights the charity’s long-standing commitment to ensuring that people with learning disabilities and autism are not excluded from everyday experiences.

Taking place this July at Stockport Guildhall, the one-day festival is a powerful example of the difference Pure Innovations makes to its clients’ lives, supporting them to live full, independent and connected lives. Designed specifically for adults with learning disabilities and autism, Access Festival creates a space where people can enjoy live music, socialise and celebrate in a way that works for them, something many are routinely excluded from.

Local businesses and organisations are being asked to help bring this year’s event to life. Pure Innovations is inviting partners from across Stockport, Manchester and the wider North West to support Access Festival through sponsorship, volunteering, or on-the-day contributions. Whether providing food and refreshments, supporting entertainment, helping with set-up or donating raffle prizes, the festival offers a meaningful way for businesses to connect with their community while championing inclusion.

The festival also shines a light on a wider issue: adults with learning disabilities remain significantly underrepresented in social and cultural spaces. Through initiatives like Access Festival, Pure Innovations continues to challenge that, not just by raising awareness, but by creating practical, lasting solutions that put people at the centre.

Emily, who founded the festival and has led its growth, explained:

“After going to a festival a few years ago, I realised that it wasn’t just the music that stayed with me, it was everything around it. The excitement beforehand, choosing what to wear, planning the day, and then sharing photos and memories afterwards. It made me realise that many of the people we support at Pure had never had that experience.

“Access Festival is a space where everyone feels comfortable, included and able to enjoy themselves. For most people, going out to a gig or a festival is no big deal, but for many of our clients, this is the highlight of their year, a chance to connect and simply enjoy live music.”

Now in its sixth year, Access Festival has grown from a small gathering of 30 people into a vibrant event welcoming more than 300 attendees. Each year, the Guildhall is transformed into a fully accessible, welcoming space, complete with live music, a DJ, dancing, karaoke, food and a raffle — all carefully shaped around the needs of those attending.

For regular attendees, the impact is profound. Many count down the days each year, with the festival offering not just a night out, but a sense of community, identity and connection that is often missing elsewhere.