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Official MemberHidden Disabilities Sunflower

We've joinedthe Sunflower

SouthportGuide is now a proud member of the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower scheme. Here's what that means, why it matters to us personally, and what we're committing to next.

Our Commitment Autism Friendly Guide →

Scheme founded

2016

UK member venues

350,000+

Lanyards issued

Free

Proof required

None

Terry's Take

Why this one is personal

My eldest is 17. He's autistic, he's at Southport College, and he's one of the reasons this guide exists in the form it does. Not because I've turned SouthportGuide into a personal project, but because having a kid with autism in this town makes you pay attention to things that most visitor guides completely ignore.

Which events are genuinely manageable and which ones are a write-off. Which venues understand hidden disabilities and which ones look blank when you mention the Sunflower lanyard. Where you can park without a ten-minute walk through crowds. What "sensory-friendly" actually means in practice versus what venues put on a poster and never follow through on.

The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower scheme is simple and it works. A green lanyard with a sunflower pattern, freely available, no paperwork, no proof required. Staff who recognise it know to offer a bit more time, patience, or help. That's it. The scheme has grown from one airport in 2016 to over 350,000 member venues and organisations across the UK. We should be part of it. So we joined.

And we're not stopping at joining. There are three specific things we're committing to below.

What the Sunflower scheme is

The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower started at Gatwick Airport in 2016. The idea is deliberate in its simplicity: a green sunflower lanyard worn by a customer tells staff that the person may have a non-visible disability and may need a little extra time, understanding, or support.

No explanation required. No proof. No paperwork. The lanyard does the communicating, quietly and on the wearer's terms.

Hidden disabilities include autism, ADHD, anxiety and panic disorders, chronic pain, Crohn's disease, hearing loss, visual impairments, epilepsy, and many others. Around one in five people in the UK has a disability. The large majority of those disabilities are invisible to someone watching from across the room.

In Southport, the lanyard is currently recognised at the train station, The Atkinson on Lord Street, and a number of town-centre retailers. Awareness is growing. We are working to increase it.

What we're committing to

Three specific things, not vague intentions.

Sensory-friendly event coverage

Every event guide we write will now flag quiet hours, sensory zones, and the least-crowded access routes where they exist. Southport Market already runs a quiet hour on Saturday mornings. We're pushing for more venues and events to follow.

Accessibility woven into every guide

Our venue and area guides will carry sensory and accessibility information as standard — not buried in a footnote. Parking close to entrances, indoor vs outdoor noise levels, predictable layouts. The stuff that actually helps families plan.

Encouraging Southport businesses to register

We'll be featuring Sunflower-registered businesses in our listings and making the case directly to venues and event organisers. Registration is free. The training is available online. There is no good reason not to.

Already happening

Southport Market quiet hour

Southport Market on King Street runs a sensory-friendly hour on Saturday mornings — reduced music and lighting, staff briefed, a calm start to the day before the weekend crowds arrive. It is one of the better examples of what accessible retail looks like in practice. Our full guide covers the details.

Southport Market guide

A note to Southport businesses

Registering with the Sunflower scheme is free. The training is available online and takes under an hour. The benefit to your customers is real, particularly families with autistic children, people with anxiety disorders, and anyone managing a condition they'd rather not explain at a counter.

We will be featuring Sunflower-registered businesses in our listings going forward. If your business or venue is registered or is in the process of registering, get in touch and we will make sure you are listed.

How to get a Sunflower lanyard

Lanyards are available free of charge at Southport train station and a number of registered venues in the town centre. You can also order them directly from the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower website — delivery is free and you do not need to explain or prove your disability.

Wearing one is completely optional. The scheme works on trust: staff are trained to recognise the sunflower and respond accordingly. Nothing else is required from the wearer.

Questions

What is the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower scheme?

The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower is a globally recognised scheme that allows people with non-visible disabilities to discreetly indicate to staff that they may need additional support, understanding, or more time. Wearing a sunflower lanyard, badge, or wristband signals this without the wearer having to explain or justify their disability.

Where can I get a Sunflower lanyard in Southport?

Sunflower lanyards are available free at Southport train station and a number of registered venues in the town centre. You can also order them directly from the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower website — they are free and no proof of disability is required.

Which Southport venues recognise the Sunflower lanyard?

Southport train station, The Atkinson on Lord Street, and a growing number of town centre businesses recognise the Sunflower lanyard. Awareness is still growing — it is worth contacting specific venues in advance for important visits. We are working to increase and document registered venues across the town.

Does SouthportGuide have an autism-friendly visitor guide?

Yes. Our autism and sensory-friendly Southport guide covers the eight calmest venues in the town, an honest events guide (including which events to avoid and which work well), practical tips on best visiting times, parking close to entrances, and the Sunflower scheme in Southport.

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