London Stands with Ukraine: March and Vigil

The map below shows the location of:

• the public assembly area meeting point
• the shorter start march starting point
• the accessibile viewing area.

Parking in Central London is extremely limited and, due to the nature of our event, a large number of roads are likely to be closed at short notice. For this reason, we encourage all participants to travel by public transport where able to.

Based on feedback received after similar events, people with accessibility requirements are advised to take part in the shorter march route only, and not to assemble at Park Lane.

This is to ensure that you are near the front of the march when it arrives at Trafalgar Square and are not stuck behind a large crowd of people that may prevent you from being able to get to the accessible viewing should higher than expected numbers of people attend the event.

There will be no additional accessibility facilities at Park Lane.

Arrival

A shorter, fully accessible, march will start at Regent Street St James’s, a short distance from Piccadilly Circus. This route is approximately 0.5 miles long, compared to 1.5 – 2 miles for the full march, and is our recommended choice for people with accessibility requirements or reduced mobility.

The closest fully accessible Underground station to Trafalgar Square is Westminster, and Charing Cross railway station is nearby. If travelling by train, rail operators are able to provide assistance boarding and alighting trains when booked in advance. All London buses are fully accessible, with ramps and priority spaces for wheelchairs.

Volunteers will be on duty at the start point to answer queries and provide assistance. A photo and map showing this location can be seen on the next page.

Assembly

The shorter march will assemble on the Eastern side of Regent Street St James’s, on the north side of Jermyn Street. The march can be accessed via a raised crossing from this point. The location code for Google Maps is: GV58+Q8 and the GPS coordinates are 51.50935787449223 North, 0.13427980562345845 West.

You should aim to arrive at the assembly area at 2pm, to minimise the time you will spend waiting for the march to arrive. Volunteers be on duty from around this time, but may not arrive until slightly later depending on staffing levels on the day.

A map and photo showing the assembly area can be seen below:

When the march is approaching the accessible assembly area, the group will be moved into the road next to the memorial to facilitate easier merging into the march. 

Starting the march

When the front of the main march is approaching, volunteers will direct you to the position from where you will merge with the main march. This will be at a step-free location, via a raised crossing and then directly onto the road.
 
People taking part in the shorter march will filter in behind the front of march banner. This will be facilitated by the people behind the banner slowing down to create a gap. This means that you will be among the first groups of people to finish the march, and have a better chance of accessing Trafalgar Square. 

While the march is moving, those who require additional assistance can march with the accessible section should they wish to. It will be accompanied by volunteer marshals. They will answer any questions, and upon arrival at Trafalgar Square they will direct you to the accessible viewing area, which is detailed in 'viewing the vigil' section.



Please note that volunteers have no legal responsibility for the accessible group, and are simply there to maximise your access and enjoyment of the event.

The entire march route is on hard surfaces and flat ground. There are no steps along the planned march route. The accessible viewing area is on hard surfaces, and is at the top of the Trafalgar Square staircase, providing a good view of the stage.

Should you wish to attend the vigil, without taking part in the march, due to accessibility concerns, we recommend that you make your way to Westminster underground station, which is fully accessible.

When you exit the station, using the lifts to street level, turn right onto the pavement and the right again onto Whitehall. Trafalgar Square is at the end of the road.

Alternatively, you can travel to Charing Cross railway station or use London Buses.

Upon arrival in Trafalgar Square, our volunteers will be able to direct you to the accessible viewing area and provide any additional assistance that you may require.

We recommend arriving at the viewing area early, as we expect the event to be very busy. Access to the viewing area is on a first come first served basis and it is possible that it may become full.

The wheelchair viewing area is on the North side of Trafalgar Square, at the top of the steps that are in front of the National Gallery.

If you are participating in the march you will be directed to the viewing location via Pall Mall East. If you are travelling directly to the vigil, we recommend approaching from the East (the direction of Charing Cross) due to expected crowds.

For participants with visual impairments

Participants with visual impairments should make themselves known to volunteers at the earliest opportunity on the day, so we can facilitate a location closer to the stage.

For participants who are deaf / hard of hearing

At the time of writing, it is our intention to book a BSL interpreter / signer for the main stage in Trafalgar Square, although the exact details are not yet known.

If this is a service which would make the march more accessible to you, we recommend taking part in the shorter march or making your way straight to the vigil so that you can pick a viewing location which is most appropriate for your individual needs before the square fills.

For participants with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs)

The march is expected to be a noisy environment with large crowds of people. It is suitable for people with Autism Spectrum Disorders but, should you be sensitive to loud noises or large crowds, we recommend making use of the shorter march starting from Waterloo place.

If you need any other advice, please e-mail [email protected] and we will be able to provide tailored advice based on your individual requirements.

Buses will be disrupted and diverted before, during, and after our event, due to road closures that will be in place. As a result, we recommend travelling home by London Underground or National Rail. Westminster underground station is a short distance from Trafalgar Square, and is fully accessible. The route to it, and nearby National Rail stations, are on flat ground.

Due to the outdoor nature of the event, there is no additional seating at the assembly point, vigil location, or along the route. There is limited seating available in Trafalgar Square, on fixed benches, but these are on a first come first served basis and do not provide a raised view of the stage.

People who are unable to stand for an extended period may bring a folding chair. If you bring one, we recommend sitting in the accessible viewing area as described in the 'viewing the vigil' section to maximise your enjoyment of the event.

The assembly area, march route, and vigil are likely to be loud. As a result, we encourage people with sensitivity to sound to bring ear plugs, or their preferred alternative method of hearing protection, with them.

Guide dogs and other assistance animals are welcome at the event, on the march and at the vigil. Please ensure that you bring enough water for your animal, as we expect it to be a warm day.

We recommend against bringing pets to the event as it will be a loud and noisy environment which will not be suitable for animals that are not trained for it.

A medical provider has been contracted to provide first aid assistance. They will have a team in Trafalgar Square.

If you need medical assistance, contact your nearest member of event staff, a volunteer, or a member of the emergency services.

There are several coffee shops near the accessible assembly area such as Pret, Café Nero, and Starbucks. Most of these have accessible entrances and toilets available. Our marshals will point you towards the one closest to the accessible assembly area.

A mobile accessible changing places toilet, Mobiloo, will be available at the vigil on Trafalgar Square.

Alternative recommended locations with accessible toilets near the vigil site are McDonalds at Trafalgar Square, and The Silver Cross on Whitehall. The Silver Cross has two entrances – the right one is accessible.

There is an additional changing places toilet at Embankment station.

The use of all accessibility options is voluntary and there is no obligation to make use of them if you would prefer not to. They are simply an additional service for people who may wish to use them.



You will not be asked to prove the need to use the services, and anybody who self declares as needing them due to accessibility requirements will be able to use them.



The event is completely free. There is no cost for the use of the accessibility options

Volunteers are a core part of the event. They will be on hand to assist march participants that have accessibility requirements. In addition, we welcome volunteers with all abilities or disabilities who wish to help us make the march a success.

There are a small number of volunteer roles which may not be accessible to everybody due to the duties required and the need to use stairs. However, the organisers of the march have put in place procedures to ensure maximum participation for volunteers with disabilities.

Volunteers who self-identify as having a disability will be assigned a role appropriate for their individual needs.

Staff and volunteers will be given a full volunteer guide in advance of the event, and will be given a briefing upon signing on. Both the guide and the briefing will include information about ensuring maximum accessibility and enjoyment for participants.

Specific advice given to staff and volunteers will include, but will not be limited to:

• never assume anything about the abilities or disabilities of others
• ask what help the person needs, don’t assume you know what help to give
• always address the person who needs help, rather than their carer or anybody accompanying them (if applicable)
• avoid using gendered pronouns. For example, use “they” not “he” or “she”, and address groups of people using “everybody” not “guys” or “ladies and gentlemen”
• when giving directions, ask questions to ensure maximum understanding. For example: “Do you see the red phone box there?” *points* *waits for answer* “Go past that phone box and take the next right”
• if you see a person who needs help, be proactive and ask how you can help
• report all accessibility issues or complaints immediately to your Team Leader, the Volunteer Manager, or the nearest radio user on the day.