Euan's Guide

Euan's Guide
Name	Euan's Guide
Type	Charity; Accessibility review platform
Founded	2013
Founder	Jodi McKenna; Euan MacDonald
Headquarters	Glasgow
Area served	United Kingdom; international users
Focus	Disability advocacy; Accessibility information

Euan's Guide Euan's Guide is a Scottish disability review platform and charity started to collect and share accessibility information for venues using user-generated reviews and guides. It was established to address practical barriers faced by people with disabilities visiting public places and to influence policy through data, campaigning and partnerships. The organisation combines grassroots review collection with strategic engagement with public bodies, cultural institutions and transport providers.

History

The platform was founded in 2013 by Jodi McKenna and Euan MacDonald following campaigns linked to access issues raised in public debates involving National Health Service (Scotland), Scottish Government, and disability rights conversations occurring alongside organisations like Scope (charity), RNIB, and Leonard Cheshire. Early milestones included pilot projects working with local authorities such as Glasgow City Council and transport operators like ScotRail; subsequent years saw collaborations with national institutions including National Trust for Scotland and cultural partners like National Museums Scotland and Scottish Opera. The organisation gained visibility through media coverage by outlets including BBC, The Guardian, The Telegraph, and was cited in policy discussions around the Equality Act 2010 implementation and accessibility audits commissioned by bodies such as Historic Environment Scotland.

Services and Features

Euan's Guide operates an online review platform allowing users to submit first-hand reports about access at venues including museums, theatres, restaurants and transport hubs. Features mirror crowd-sourced models like those used by TripAdvisor, Yelp, and mapping-focused services such as Google Maps, with bespoke fields tailored toward mobility, sensory and communication access similar to tools developed by Transport for London and accessibility standards referenced by British Standards Institution. The service provides searchable listings, filters for accessible features, photographic evidence, and aggregated statistics used by partners including VisitScotland, Creative Scotland, and major cultural venues like Scottish National Gallery and Civic Voice. Complementary offerings include downloadable guides, reporting tools used in campaigns resembling those from Leonard Cheshire Disability Research and community outreach programs akin to initiatives run by Disability Rights UK.

Accessibility Reviews and Content

Content is user-generated and moderated, enabling reviews to cover physical accessibility such as ramps and lifts, sensory information such as lighting and acoustics, and staff training and attitudes—topics relevant to standards set by organisations such as Royal National Institute of Blind People and Action on Hearing Loss. Review formats are comparable to accessibility documentation produced by institutions including Historic England and curated collections like those of Museum Development Scotland. The platform has hosted themed campaigns and data collection drives paralleling research projects at universities like University of Glasgow, University of Edinburgh, and Robert Gordon University to inform inclusive design practice. It also aggregates case studies of accessible retrofits similar to projects documented by Creative Scotland and municipal accessibility strategies from councils like Edinburgh City Council and Aberdeen City Council.

Impact and Reception

The platform influenced venue practice and public awareness through case studies publicised in outlets such as The Scotsman, The Herald (Glasgow), and trade journals akin to Museums Journal. Its data has been cited in reports by policy organisations including Joseph Rowntree Foundation and used by campaigning groups like Inclusion Scotland and Capability Scotland to advocate for improved access. Positive reception has been noted from cultural institutions including National Galleries of Scotland and transport stakeholders such as Strathclyde Partnership for Transport, while critiques from accessibility researchers at institutions like University of Stirling have driven methodological refinements. The initiative has been recognised in awards and ceremonies hosted by bodies such as Scottish Charity Awards and sector events like Herald Charity Awards.

Organisation and Governance

The charity is governed by a board of trustees drawn from civic, academic and lived-experience sectors, following governance practices comparable to registered charities overseen by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator. Leadership combines founders and staff experienced in advocacy, communications and digital product development with advisors from disability sector organisations including Disability Equality Scotland and Inclusion London. Operational frameworks reflect non-profit standards used by comparable organisations such as Shelter (charity) and Crisis (charity), with volunteer engagement models similar to those of Age Scotland and community-led platforms like Localgiving.

Partnerships and Funding

Funding streams include grants, philanthropic donations, corporate partnerships and commissioned services, similar to income models used by Children in Scotland and arts organisations funded by Arts Council England and Creative Scotland. Strategic partners have included cultural institutions like Citizens Theatre, transport bodies such as Transport Scotland, civic organisations including VisitScotland, and national campaigns with organisations like Disability Rights UK and Inclusion Scotland. Grant support has come from trusts and foundations comparable to National Lottery Community Fund, charitable foundations and social investors, while corporate engagement has involved venue operators and hospitality groups analogous to national chains and regional businesses.

Category:Charities based in Glasgow Category:Accessibility organizations Category:Disability rights in the United Kingdom