By Adam Maidment

Copyright manchestereveningnews

A groundbreaking new event in Manchester this weekend aims to show how club nights can be – and should be – made accessible in the city. Taking place at The Yard, on Bent Street in Cheetham Hill , United By The Groove has been billed as a fully accessible house music rave, featuring a line-up of big name performers. Creamfields DJ Jake Smith, who uses a wheelchair and has cerebral palsy, will headline, whilst the likes of AJ Murphy, Finley Allen and Matty Taylforth will also perform at the event on Saturday (September 20). Raising money for national disability charity Sense, the rave night will offer braille signage, a lowered bar with an audio loop and accessible toilets that are equipped with alarm pull cords and brackets. Stay connected with our City Life newsletter here In addition, there will also be a chill-out sensory room on the night for anybody who needs a break from the music . The event, which will run from 4pm to 10pm, has also been scheduled to make travelling home easier afterwards. This weekend’s event is hoped to be the first of many more to come and hopes to also raise awareness of the need for more inclusive music spaces. United By The Groove was co-founded by house music fan Joe Skinner, from Padiham in Burnley, based on some of his own experiences clubbing. Joe, 25, who uses a wheelchair, explains: “I’ve been attending house music events for the last decade and there are usually so many exhausting things to worry about: Can I get into the building in my wheelchair? Will there be a step? Will I fit through the doorway? Will I be stuck on the wrong floor so I can’t hear the music? Will the toilets be accessible? “There’s also the worry about how people will react towards me. Sometimes people talk to your friends instead of you or are accidentally patronising, but the reason is people are not used to seeing disabled people at these events, either as music fans or musicians. “That’s why we decided to launch United By The Groove, to do something about it for the greater good of disabled music fans, and we’re thrilled to have The Yard working with us to create a fully accessible event – they’ve been superb.” Research last year, from the Research Institute for Disabled Consumers (RIDC) and Which?, found that around 50% of disabled people who attended a music, theatre, comedy or sports event in the past year had access issues at the venue. Two in five who had problems at a venue said there was poor access into the event, including a lack of accessible food stands and toilets, as well as obstructed views. The event has been organised alongside two local event brand owners, Lee from Compakt and Gabe from XtraTrax, and another friend, Charlie Hickling, to ensure a full and authentic rave experience can be had whilst being inclusive for everybody. Joe added: “We’re hoping everyone at our first event will feel fully included, while all proceeds from the night will go to the Sense charity. So get your ticket booked and come down and support us!” Speaking about the event, Stephanie Tyrrell, Head of Arts and Wellbeing at the disability charity Sense, said: “United By The Groove is an incredible concept and we’re delighted they are fundraising for Sense while working to open up the music industry to more disabled performers and music fans. “At Sense, we campaign for disabled people with complex needs to live life to the full. Disabled artists lead our nationwide music, dance and arts programme and this project fits perfectly with our work. We hope everyone loves taking part in a fully inclusive launch event.” Tickets for United By The Groove can be bought here . Join our Manc Life WhatsApp group HERE