We shine the spotlight on Broadsword’s winning entry at this year’s micebook Awards. The global agency picked up the gong for Best Charity or CSR event for its work with Scope on the Disability and Equality Awards…

Broadsword was appointed by Scope to deliver the first Disability & Equality Awards, which were launched to coincide with the charity’s 70th anniversary to shine a spotlight on disability champions across the media, sport, culture and business sectors.

The awards were co-produced with working group of disability champions to ensure that every touch point was considered and made as accessible and inclusive as possible. It was important that any barriers to participation were removed, whilst making the event feel glamorous and celebratory.

Scope planned from the outset to organise the event in a hybrid format to allow for both in-person and virtual participation. Two thirds of the audience for the awards had complex needs and disabilities such as visual impairments, dwarfism and cystic fibrosis, so the Broadsword team reviewed 50 venues to find an appropriate accessible venue that met requirements such as wheelchair access throughout, a large obstacle free room, a hearing loop and adjustable lighting. Twickenham Stadium was chosen as it met all the criteria.

Broadsword also created a custom platform with multiple accessibility needs in mind to support all communications in the run up to the event and hosted a live stream of the event. For example, all functionality and navigation could be accessed through a keyboard with headings and labels that were fully compatible with screen readers, and all links were underlined and clearly explained.

Paralympic Champion Kadeena Cox OBE hosted the event, which attracted 213 in-person guests and over 1,000 watching the event online. Judges commended Broadsword on the accessible digital platform and positive feedback from participants and the client.