Häfele UK and the Leicester Tigers Foundation brought together representatives from across the KBB industry on Thursday 27 August for an event exploring accessibility, inclusive design and what it means to create spaces that work for everyone.
Held at Leicester Tigers’ stadium, Mattioli Woods Welford Road, the event built on Häfele’s longstanding partnership with the club’s Wheelchair Rugby team, which it has supported since 2018.
At the ‘Maximising the Value of Space Together: Through Design and Inclusivity’ event, guests heard directly from the Wheelchair Rugby team about their everyday experiences and training regime, and took part in conversations around disability, accessibility and inclusive living.
Attendees also had the opportunity to try wheelchair rugby themselves, giving them a first-hand understanding of the sport and the experiences of the team.
The event was attended by representatives from several kitchen retailers and Häfele customers, including Howdens, Magnet, and Premiere Kitchens, creating an opportunity to explore how accessibility and inclusivity can translate into kitchen design in practice.
Gemma McRae, Chief Sales Officer for Key Accounts at Häfele UK, said: “One of the most valuable parts of the day was hearing directly from people about their own experiences.
“Accessibility can mean very different things to different people, so there is a lot to be gained from listening, asking questions and understanding the challenges people face in their everyday lives.
“It was also a useful opportunity to bring people from across the industry together and start a wider conversation around what good, inclusive design can look like.”
Lucy Rogers, Head of Sales at Premiere Kitchens, one of the attendees on the day, added: “What I’ll take away is the importance of looking at accessibility from the individual’s point of view.
“It highlighted how much difference small design decisions can make and gave us plenty to think about in terms of the questions we ask and how we approach kitchen design.”
Jamie Stead, MBE, Head Coach of Leicester Tigers Wheelchair Rugby Club, said: “This was the first time we’ve delivered this kind of event with a corporate partner, and it worked really well because people were willing to get involved and experience something outside their usual environment – and comfort zone.
“Wheelchair rugby is a powerful way to break down barriers. Giving our players the opportunity to share their own experiences also helped guests understand accessibility in a much more personal way.”
