Hillsborough Castle and Gardens joins Hidden Disabilities Sunflower network to support visitors with invisible disabilities
Hillsborough Castle and Gardens, which is part of Historic Royal Palaces, has joined the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower network, marking another step in its ambition to be a charity for everyone.
The globally recognised Sunflower symbol helps make the invisible visible, offering a discreet way for people with non-visible disabilities – such as autism, chronic pain, dementia, anxiety or sensory sensitivities – to indicate that they may need additional support, understanding, or time during their visit.
By joining the Sunflower network, HRP is strengthening its commitment to creating welcoming, inclusive environments across its palaces. It builds on the charity’s ongoing work to remove barriers – whether physical, sensory, or social – that can prevent people from fully engaging with heritage sites like the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, Kensington Palace, Kew Palace, Banqueting House and Hillsborough Castle & Gardens.
Visitors choosing to wear the Sunflower symbol while at HRP sites can expect staff to be aware of the Sunflower and ready to offer appropriate support where needed, helping to create a more accessible and understanding experience.
Alongside accreditation, HRP will continue to develop staff training, resources, and awareness initiatives to embed inclusive practice across its teams.
Across its sites, this includes adjustments to lighting, sound and visitor numbers during selected events, alongside specialist programming delivered by trained facilitators to support different access needs.
Kim Klug, Community Partnerships Manager at Historic Royal Palaces, said: “Becoming part of the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower network is an important step forward in our ambition to be a charity for everyone.
"We know that many barriers to accessing and enjoying our sites are not always visible, and being a Hidden Disabilities Sunflower member will help our teams better recognise and respond to visitors’ individual needs.
“We want every visitor to feel welcome, supported, and able to experience the stories we share in a way that works for them.
"The Sunflower programme reinforces our commitment to ensuring that more people have the opportunity to enjoy, learn from and be inspired by our remarkable sites and the stories they hold.”
Paul White, CEO for the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower, added: “By training colleagues to recognise the Sunflower and understand how to support visitors with non-visible disabilities, Historic Royal Palaces is helping more people explore these remarkable places with greater confidence.”