We offer free Personal Assistant or Essential Companion tickets, subject to proof of eligibility which is administered by Nimbus Disability’s Access Card on our behalf. This facility is available to customers who require additional support or assistance as a result of a disability or long-term health condition, as defined by the Equality Act (2010).
By accepting this ticket your companion, who must be aged over 16, accepts responsibility for providing the additional support you require to access our venues and services, including in an emergency situation or evacuation and must be capable and available to provide this support throughout your visit.
Who is eligible?
Essential Companion tickets are intended for customers requiring additional support. This must be due to disability-related needs, significant and in excess of what could be reasonably expected of family or friends already accompanying you.
Please note that Nimbus may not automatically award Personal Assistant or Essential Companion tickets for children under 16, as children are always required to be under the direct supervision of a responsible adult in our venues.
Proof of eligibility
To book Essential Companion tickets please provide:
-
Nimbus Disability / Credability Access Card with the +1 symbol
OR
- Register for a free Nimbus Disability Access Scheme registration (with the +1 symbol), for use with ATG only.
Do I need to pay for an Access Card? No, you can choose between the free registration or paid-for physical card. The difference is outlined in our FAQ section below.
OR one of the following:
- Hynt Card
- CVI Certificate
- Attendance Allowance
- For bookings at the Nova Cinema in Woking only, a CEA card
If you have any alternative documents, including PIP or DLA awards, please register via Nimbus. You can find out more about their work and their direct contact details on their website: https://www.accesscard.online/
If you are not eligible for Essential Companion tickets this will not affect your existing Access Membership account and you will continue to be able to book Access prices and seats.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are ATG working with Nimbus Disability’s Access Card?
We have partnered with the Access Card because we support their aim of a consistent approach to complementary companion tickets across all ATG venues and other similar organisations. It also reduces the amount of sensitive personal data you need to share with us, as the Access Card focuses on accessibility requirements rather than details of your disability or health condition. We will provide a complimentary Personal Assistant or Essential Companion ticket where your card has the +1 symbol highlighted.
What is the difference between the Access Card and the free registration?
| What is the cost? | Do I receive a card? | Where can I use it? | How long does it last? | |
| Free registration | Free | Digital account only | With ATG only | 3 years |
| Access Card | £15 | Physical card | In any organisation | 3 years |
Full details are available on the Nimbus Disability Access Card website. https://www.accesscard.online/atg-registration/
Terms and Conditions
Please review our full Terms and Conditions, which apply to all bookings and customers including the personal assistant or essential companion.
Personal Assistant or Essential Companion tickets can only be booked alongside a paid ticket.
The personal assistant or companion must be at least 16 years of age, and a companion aged 16 or 17 is not permitted to supervise anyone aged 15 or under.
- Although we recognise the support provided by young carers, our policy is that young people aged 15 and under must be supervised on our premises, and we must be confident that companions could assist effectively in the event of an emergency.
- Where a child under 16 is presented as an essential companion we reserve the right to charge full price for their ticket or refuse admission.
Please note that we operate Challenge 25, and that if your assistant or companion is aged 16 or 17 we will not allow them to purchase alcohol on your behalf.
Essential Companion tickets can be returned at any time if they are no longer required, and we encourage you to do so at the earliest opportunity to enable the ticket to be used by others. Customers who repeatedly book Essential Companion tickets and do not use them will have this facility removed from their account.
As this policy is potentially open to misuse we require proof of eligibility as described above. Where a customer provides suitable proof of eligibility ATG will enable booking of personal assistant tickets immediately. Where a customer does not have the required proof of eligibility we defer to Nimbus Disability's Access Card, via our free registration service. We will abide by Nimbus' decision on whether the customer is eligible. If a customer seeks to provide us with alternative forms of proof of eligibility which ATG staff are not able to process, we will direct them to the free Access Card registration process.
We will not authorise the sale of personal assistant tickets to people who are not able to provide the required proof, which we consider to be fair and reasonable, and in line with the policies of similar organisations. This is to protect the integrity of the scheme and ensure that this facility remains available to those customers who could not attend without additional support. We will remove the ability to book such tickets from anyone found to be misusing this facility.
We recognise that some customers may require the support of more than one personal assistant or essential companion. We will require official proof of this requirement in order to add this facility to your account; your Access Card registration will show a +2 symbol.