Listening, Learning and Staying Up Late: A Conversation About Inclusion in the Night-Time Economy
The BCRP recently had the privilege of attending a workshop with Stay Up Late, a Brighton-based charity that campaigns for people with learning disabilities and autistic people to lead full, active social lives — including the right to enjoy a night out.
Stay Up Late began as a campaign sparked by the punk band Heavy Load, whose gigs regularly saw fans leaving early — not because of the music, but because support staff shifts ended at 10pm. This powerful and frustrating reality inspired the Stay Up Late movement, which challenges inflexible support systems and advocates for more inclusive nightlife experiences.
Their message is clear: the freedom to choose how and when to enjoy life shouldn’t stop at 9pm.
During the workshop, the team shared powerful insights into the barriers their community faces when accessing the night-time economy — from early exits due to shift patterns, to not being believed when asking for help. These conversations reminded us how small changes can have a big impact.
Key highlights from the conversation included:
The need for visible, welcoming messages in venues.
Training for door staff around invisible disabilities.
More flexible policies for carers and personal assistants (PAs), including free ticketing.
Access to simple safety tools like phone charging points.
The importance of staff who are approachable, patient, and open to offering assistance.
We left the session inspired, informed, and committed to taking action. We’ll be working with our members and partners to help raise awareness and share simple, actionable steps venues can take to become more inclusive.
About Stay Up Late
Stay Up Late is a national charity born from the lived experience of musicians and gig-goers who saw the impact of rigid support structures limiting social opportunities for people with learning disabilities. Their mission is to challenge those systems, create change, and make social freedom a reality.
They run a hugely successful initiative called Gig Buddies, which pairs people with learning disabilities with volunteer ‘buddies’ to attend gigs, festivals, and events together. What started in Brighton is now active in multiple countries, helping thousands of people lead fuller social lives.
Get Involved
We believe that a safe, welcoming night-time economy is one that works for everyone — and that starts by listening. If your venue is taking steps to be more inclusive, let us know. If you’d like to get involved in ongoing conversations around accessibility and inclusion, we’d love to hear from you.
Together, we can help make nights out feel safer, fairer and more inclusive — for everyone.