Hundreds of Horsham businesses sign up to award-winning accessibility scheme
Hundreds of businesses across the Horsham district have already signed up to the Snowball accessibility scheme following a partnership with Horsham District Council, helping make local shops, restaurants, cafés and attractions easier to discover for disabled people.
The initiative is helping to make Horsham a more welcoming and inclusive destination for disabled residents, visitors and their families, while supporting local businesses to reach customers who might otherwise struggle to access their services.
Snowball, recently named one of TIME Magazine’s Best Inventions of 2026, is the world’s largest disability accessibility app, with a community of more than 170,000 people and information covering approximately 100,000 locations.
The free app allows users to discover accessible businesses, read reviews and find essential facilities including accessible toilets, Changing Places toilets and Blue Badge parking. It also provides directions, helping disabled people plan journeys with greater confidence.
Hundreds of businesses have already joined the scheme across the Horsham district, demonstrating the enthusiasm of the local business community to improve accessibility and welcome more disabled customers.
Participating businesses can provide detailed accessibility information, while those undertaking professional assessments can receive a Snowball Accessibility Rating, highlighting their facilities and identifying opportunities for improvement.
The scheme is also expected to benefit Horsham’s local economy by helping businesses connect with the disabled community and their families, whose collective spending power is often referred to as the Purple Pound.
Simon Sansome, founder and CEO of Snowball, who became paralysed following a spinal injury in 2014, said: “It’s absolutely fantastic to see hundreds of businesses across Horsham already signing up to Snowball. It shows there’s a genuine willingness among local businesses to make their premises more welcoming to disabled people.
“As a wheelchair user myself, I know how difficult something as simple as going out for a coffee or visiting a restaurant can be. Before I leave home, I need to know whether I can get through the door, whether there’s an accessible toilet and whether I’m going to be able to enjoy myself when I get there.
“Most people never have to think about these things, but for millions of disabled people it’s an everyday reality.
“What Horsham District Council has done is recognise that accessibility isn’t just about ramps and toilets. It’s also about providing people with the information they need to make decisions about where they can go.
“Having hundreds of businesses already involved is a tremendous achievement, and I really hope other councils across the country follow Horsham’s example.”
The partnership also presents an opportunity for local businesses to attract customers who may previously have avoided visiting because they were unsure about accessibility.
Simon added: “The Purple Pound is worth billions to the UK economy, yet so many businesses are missing out because disabled people simply don’t know whether they can access them.
“A restaurant could have fantastic wheelchair access, an accessible toilet and brilliant staff, but if nobody knows about it, disabled customers might never walk through the door.
“That’s what we’re trying to change. Snowball helps businesses showcase what they offer while giving disabled people the confidence to visit.
“Horsham is demonstrating how councils and businesses can work together to make a real difference, and I would love to see this approach rolled out nationally.”
The Horsham initiative comes during a remarkable period for Snowball.
The Leicestershire-based company attracted national attention following its appearance on BBC One’s Dragons’ Den, where all five Dragons made investment offers.
Since then, Snowball has partnered with Google, Barclays, Santander, Merlin Group, Transport for London to help disabled passengers navigate the Tube network, and developing partnerships with major organisations including CareCo and Ambassador Cruise Line.
In October 2026, Snowball received international recognition after being selected as one of TIME Magazine’s Best Inventions of 2026.
Despite its international growth, the company’s mission remains focused on making everyday life easier for disabled people.
Simon said: “When I created Snowball, I wanted to help people like me get out of the house and enjoy life without constantly worrying about accessibility.
“To see hundreds of businesses in one district getting behind that idea is incredibly rewarding.
“Imagine if every council in the UK did what Horsham is doing. We could have hundreds of thousands of businesses sharing accessibility information, making it easier for disabled people to travel, shop, eat out and enjoy their communities.
“That’s the future I want Snowball to help create, because everyone deserves everywhere.”
Residents and visitors can download the Snowball app free of charge and are encouraged to leave reviews of local businesses, helping other disabled people make informed decisions about where to visit.
Download Snowball for free:
Apple App Store – https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/snowball-community/id1624679548