What Social Sustainability Really Means for Venues

For venues, the social pillar shows up in five key areas:

1. Visitor Experience

How people actually experience your space.

Accessibility. Comfort. Navigation. Sensory awareness. Quiet spaces.

The ideal? Everyone feels welcome — not just accommodated.

2. Staff Wellbeing & Inclusion

Are your teams trained, supported and confident?

Inclusive practices need to live in daily operations, not sit in a policy document.

The goal is empowered staff who understand why things matter — not just what to do.

3. Inclusivity in Practice

Practical design for diverse needs — neurodiverse visitors,sensory considerations, mobility requirements.

This includes tools like sensory maps, early access, thoughtful registration prompts and flexible layouts.

Inclusion in action — not just on paper.

4. Community Impact

Venues have civic responsibility.

Social sustainability extends beyond your walls through partnerships, volunteering, knowledge sharing and supporting local suppliers.

Meaningful contribution goes far beyond offering a discount.

5. Transparency & Communication

Honest conversations with organisers and visitors.

Clear expectations around accessibility.

Trust built through openness — even when compromises exist.

Quiet Spaces: Beyond the Label

Quiet spaces are increasingly expected — and often appear in RFPs.

But there is a difference between labelling a room as a“quiet space” and creating a space that genuinely supports wellbeing.

A quiet room isn’t just about aesthetics.

It’s about safety. Support. Management.

In our experience, some of the most impactful improvements are simple:

• Clear signage and rules (for example, no eating)
• Communicating what the space offers before the event
• Ensuring staff understand its purpose and etiquette
• Rotating team members to maintain calm

Low-cost solutions can work beautifully:

• A softly lit corner with comfortable seating
• Sensory-friendly areas during busy events
• Calm breakout rooms for overstimulated guests
• Adding affordable supportive materials such as colouring books, headphones, eye masks, water, hand sanitiser, fidget toys.

These rooms don’t have to cost a lot of money, and a lot of the time you can have this stock in house to use on more then one occasion.

But the most important element?

Where possible, having the space supported by a Mental Health First Aider.

Without appropriate supervision, a quiet room can unintentionally become unsafe if someone is in distress and left unsupported.

The difference lies in intention.

Is the space there to tick a box — or to genuinely support delegates?

Why Registration Is the First Step in Inclusion

Inclusion often begins long before a guest arrives onsite.

People rarely disclose accessibility or sensory requirements unless they are invited to. Thoughtful prompts during registration — around dietary, sensory and mobility needs — encourage openness.

Good information leads to better preparation.

At the University of Leeds, for example, deeper engagement with delegate requirements has allowed event teams to anticipate needs — including arranging separate dining spaces when required — rather than reacting on the day.

Where organisers manage their own registration, best practice is clear communication channels so this information is shared with the venue team early.

Preparation builds confidence.

And confidence builds better experiences.

Is Your Venue Truly Accessible?

Accessibility is often reduced to ramps, toilets, lifts and signage.

But true accessibility is about lived experience.

Through my work delivering accessible conference — where many attendees have complex accessibility needs — I have learned just how different perception and reality can be.

We didn’t just review a checklist.
We conducted site visits.
We measured door widths.
Checked pivot spaces.
Reviewed bed heights for hoists.
Counted accessible toilets.
Assessed bathe-in showers.
Checked pool hoists.
Adjusted table layouts.
Removed chairs to create genuine wheelchair space.
Re-spaced rows.
Added ramps for stages.
Created calm breakout spaces.

Sometimes venues couldn’t meet every requirement — and that’s okay.

What matters is transparency.

Honest communication about what is available, what isn’t,and what alternatives can be offered builds trust. Managing expectations reduces negative experiences.

The University of Leeds’ accessibility grading system is astrong example of this approach — setting clear expectations upfront, supporting planning, and helping both staff and visitors understand the level of access available.

Accessibility is not about perfection.

It is about awareness, effort, and honesty.

Supporting Neurodiverse Visitors

Supporting neurodiverse guests is not complicated — it is about offering options.

• Early access to reduce crowd anxiety.
• Sensory maps to highlight quiet and busy zones.
• Filmed walk throughs before live events.
• Quiet hours or low-stimulation spaces.
• Flexible seating layouts.
• Patient, proactive staff communication.

Small, practical adjustments create choice and control —which improves comfort for everyone.

These changes are rarely high cost.

But they are high impact.

Working With Organisers, Not Against Them

Many event organisers are not accessibility specialists.

Events are not everyone’s day job.

Venues have an opportunity to guide.

• Pre-written guidance documents.
• Prompt questions.
• Proactive suggestions.
  

Finding the balance between supporting social sustainability and managing day-to-day operations is essential — but small, structured

communication steps can make inclusion easier, not harder.

When venues lead collaboratively, social sustainability becomes part of planning — not a last-minute addition.

Community & Suppliers: Beyond the Event Day

The social pillar also asks: how are you contributing beyond your immediate bookings?

This might look like:

• Sharing space with local groups
• Staff volunteering
• Knowledge-sharing with community organisations
• Hosting inclusive or fundraising events
• Partnering with local charities
• Prioritising responsible and local suppliers

At its heart, this is about culture — not cost.

Small, intentional actions build long-term community valueand strengthen your brand reputation organically.

Turning Intention Into Practice

Social sustainability is not a single initiative. It is adiscipline.

It requires:

• Clear processes
• Accountability
• Staff awareness
• Ongoing reflection

When embedded properly, it improves visitor experience, strengthens staff loyalty, builds trust, and deepens community relationships

And perhaps most importantly — it makes venues feel human.

The social pillar may be less visible.

But it is the one people remember.

Final Thought

Ask yourself:

Is your venue socially sustainable — or socially intentional?

Because the difference lies in action.

You can watch our full webinar here: https://youtu.be/TsYiowicN_M