Channel 4 embraces the power of purple for #PurpleLightUp

30 November 2018

Channel 4 will be embracing the power of purple to mark International Day of Persons with Disabilities and the worldwide #PurpleLightUp campaign on 3rd December.

The day encourages people to recognise disability by wearing purple and businesses to mark the day by using purple in their logos, on their websites and lighting up their offices in purple. 

The campaign to raise awareness of the #PurpleLightUp movement, created by PurpleSpace, celebrates the economic contributions made by disabled people.

Channel 4 will broadcast a range of special moments and initiatives to highlight #PurpleLightUp beginning with a unique film funded by eight major organisations which will be first broadcast after The Last Leg on 30th November.

Employees from BT, HSBC UK, Lloyds Banking Group, Lloyd’s of London, Nationwide Building Society, Reed Smith, Scope and Virgin Media, as well as Channel 4 appear in the film and give an insight into the extra worries they have to cope with. 

The powerful two minute film, devised by 4Sales’ creative arm PL4Y and produced by The Outfit, includes The Last Leg presenter Adam Hills. It features employees from eight brands detailing the typical concerns many disabled people have about how they are perceived in the workplace.

As well as promoting International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the film also encourages businesses to help disabled people find careers so they can thrive. And as a Disability Confident Leader, Channel 4 is keen to support businesses make the most of the talents disabled people can bring to the workplace. 

The film, which will air throughout the weekend and International Day of Persons with Disabilities on 3rd December, will direct employers to www.channel4.com/purple where they will be able to find out more about how to make their businesses disability confident.

Channel 4’s Chief Marketing and Communications Officer Dan Brooke, who is also the broadcaster’s Board Diversity Champion, said: “In the UK there are seven million people of working age with health conditions or disabilities and an astonishing 50 per cent are unemployed. This represents a huge wealth of talent which is simply going to waste. And it’s not just the people themselves who are losing out, businesses are losing out as is Britain PLC.”

Other moments to mark International Day of Persons with Disabilities and #PurpleLightUp include:

-    the first ever live signing of Channel 4 News at 7pm on 3rd December

-    #PurpleLightUp idents and special continuity announcements highlighting the day will air on Channel 4 throughout 3rd December

-    Sunday Brunch will mark #PurpleLightUp by creating purple cocktails and purple pudding on 2nd December

-    Channel 4’s London and Manchester offices  will be embracing purple

-    Channel 4 staff will be encouraged to don something purple for the day.

Notes to Editors

See the film here

More information about The Government’s Disability Confident Scheme is available here or contact the Department of Work and Pensions Press Office on 020 3267 5126

BT - BT’s purpose is to use the power of communications to make a better world. It is one of the world’s leading providers of communications services and solutions, serving customers in 180 countries. Our principal activities include the provision of networked IT services globally; local, national and international telecommunications services to its customers for use at home, at work and on the move; broadband, TV and internet products and services; and converged fixed-mobile products and services. BT consists of four customer-facing units: Consumer, Enterprise, Global Services and Openreach. Contact christopher.j.wood@bt.com for more details.

HSBC UK serves more than 14.5 million customers across the UK, supported by approximately 32,000 employees.  HSBC UK is a subsidiary of HSBC Holdings plc, which is part of the HSBC Group – one of the world’s largest banking and financial services groups. The HSBC Group serves customers worldwide from around 3,800 offices in 66 countries and territories in Europe, Asia, North and Latin America, and the Middle East and North Africa. Contact neil1.fleming@hsbc.com 07384 792051.

Lloyds Banking Group is a leading UK based financial services group providing a wide range of banking and financial services, focused on personal and commercial customers. The Group’s main business activities are retail, commercial and corporate banking, general insurance, and life, pensions and investment provision. Services are offered through a number of well recognised brands including Lloyds Bank, Halifax, Bank of Scotland, and Scottish Widows, and a range of distribution channels. This includes the largest branch network in the UK and a comprehensive digital, telephony and mobile services.  For further details please contact emma.fairhurst@lloydsbanking.com or call 07814395855.

Lloyd’s of London is the world’s specialist insurance and reinsurance market.  
With expertise earned over centuries, Lloyd’s is the foundation of the insurance industry and the future of it. Led by expert underwriters and brokers in more than 200 territories, the Lloyd’s market develops the essential, complex and critical insurance needed to underwrite human progress.

PL4Y is 4 Sales' integrated creative approach; both a culture and practice that encourage curiosity and courage in ideas. Through the practice of PL4Y briefs are interrogated more ruthlessly to define the real challenge and identify the best possible way Channel 4 can add value to a brand. More details www.4sales.com

#PurpleLightUp is a movement created by PurpleSpace, a social business that helps develop disability people networks across organisations to stimulate conversations about all aspects of disability in the workplace. More details are available here or contact Vanessa Hardy at vanessa@purplespace.org or call 07889 776620 or Sarah Simcoe at sarah@purplespace.org or call 07917 4403369.

Reed Smith is a dynamic international law firm dedicated to helping clients move their businesses forward. Our belief is that by delivering smarter and more creative legal services, we will not only enrich our clients’ experiences with us, but also support them in achieving their business goals. Our long-standing relationships, international outlook, and collaborative structure make us the go-to partner for the speedy resolution of complex disputes, transactions, and regulatory matters. More details at www.reedsmith.com or call Emma Lloyd, PR Executive, on 011 3341 4914.

We’re Scope, the disability equality charity. We won’t stop until we achieve a society where all disabled people enjoy equality and fairness. For more information go to www.scope.org.uk or contact Warren Kirwan on warren.kirwan@scope.org.uk and 020 6719 7200

The Outfit creates and produces entertainment-led content bringing the worlds of brand building, brand communication and entertainment together to drive consumer behaviour and deliver commercial results. More information at www.theoutfituk.com

Virgin Media offers four multi award-winning services across the UK and Ireland: broadband, TV, mobile phone and landline. Virgin Media is part of Liberty Global, the world’s largest international TV and broadband company. Contact simon.feldman@virginmedia.co.uk  or call 0333 000 2900