Friday, 11th July marked a landmark occasion for Felixstowe as the town hosted its inaugural Disability Pride – a vibrant, heartwarming festival focused on promoting inclusion, visibility, and unity within the disabled community.
Local business A&S Recruitment played an integral role in the event’s success, proudly sponsoring and operating the water station to keep attendees refreshed throughout the day.
A day of glorious sunshine, more than 200 people turned out to take part in the festivities. The colourful parade began at the SeaYou Café and made its way along the promenade to the Felixstowe Leisure Centre, drawing applause, encouragement, and smiles from residents and visitors alike.
The event was the vision of Ian Bell and his wife, Glynis, whose personal story sparked the idea of creating a dedicated space for disability pride in Suffolk. Ian says:
“Felixstowe Disability Pride began as an idea born from personal experience. When my wife Glynis suffered a life-changing stroke, we both saw firsthand the challenges and resilience within the disabled community. Disability Pride isn’t about sympathy—it’s about visibility, respect, and genuine inclusion. It’s about giving disabled people the space to be celebrated, not overlooked.
“A&S Recruitment’s support of the day wonderfully highlighted this company’s commitment to championing equality and community engagement.”
Co-founder Clare Lucas brought energy and creativity to the initiative, helping to shape a genuinely inclusive and joyful day. Clare reflected on the event:
“When Ian and Glynis invited me to join them in creating an inclusive event in Felixstowe for the disabled community, I jumped at the chance. A fantastic opportunity to raise vital funds for local charity Activ Lives, where I proudly serve as a trustee, seeing the samba band lead the procession and a sea of people wearing the T-shirts I designed was a moment I’ll treasure forever. Out of all the events I’ve co-created, this is by far my favourite.”
The organisers would also like to extend a special thank you to A&S Recruitment’s Becky Crevald, who played a key role in securing support from local businesses and demonstrating how community collaboration can bring powerful visions to life.
Ian adds: “Felixstowe Disability Pride was more than a first – it was a statement. A declaration of unity, resilience, and the importance of making space for everyone. With support from dedicated organisations like A&S Recruitment, the event stands as a shining example of what can be achieved when community values come together in action.”
Originally posted on Porttalk (https://porttalk.co.uk/felixstowe-comes-together-to-celebrate-the-towns-first-disability-pride/)