Some of you may remember that the idea of the Purple Collective began after I read Jon Alexander’s brilliant book Citizens. I wanted to explore how communities could come together to create meaningful change on disability issues, rather than always waiting for governments or organisations to act first.
Alongside the talented Philip Hoare, who also created the Purple Collective’s visual identity, we built a Community Interest Company, started an Instagram account and newsletter, and experimented with ways of mobilising people around campaigns. We learned a huge amount, even if that first model wasn’t quite the right one.
Over the past year, my focus has naturally narrowed towards one challenge that feels both important and solvable: getting more hoists into hotels, so that the estimated 250,000 people in the UK who need a hoist have far greater freedom to travel and stay overnight.
Along the way, Philip has stepped back to focus on his PhD and his fantastic work with the Wheelchair Alliance. I’m incredibly grateful for everything he contributed in helping bring the Purple Collective to life.
At the same time, through my regular conversations with Ann Hawkins, I’m delighted that Ann has joined me as a director of the Community Interest Company. Together we’re exploring what the Purple Collective can achieve next.
We’re continuing to focus on the Hoists in Hotels campaign and, over the coming weeks, I’ll be sharing more about the exciting progress we’re making with partners in the hotel industry.
Perhaps even more excitingly, everything we’re learning is beginning to reveal a model for creating social change that feels quite different from many of the traditional approaches. It’s still taking shape, but I’m looking forward to sharing more about that soon as well.
If this journey interests you, I’d love you to subscribe to my newsletter at martynsibley.com.
And if you have connections within hotels, hospitality, businesses that may be interested in sponsoring hoists, or simply ideas that could help move this campaign forward, I’d genuinely love to hear from you.
More updates soon.
