about hynt
Hynt is a new initiative working with theatres and arts centres in Wales to create a clear and consistent offer for audiences in need of support from an assistant or carer.
THE HYNT CARD will entitle cardholders to a ticket free-of-charge for personal assistants or carers to be used across participating theatres and venues in Wales.
THE HYNT WEBSITE will be the place to go for access information. We will provide an up-to-date and simple website with information about performances and access guides for all Hynt venues.
Yes. Openness and transparency are really important to us. Hynt is peer-led and we have worked with disabled people, third sector organisations and theatres and arts centres to develop and create Hynt.
Hynt is a peer-led initiative. At the start of the project we met with a wide range of people and organisations. We worked with disabled people to create the eligibility criteria so that Hynt is as fair, transparent and credible as possible.
Creu Cymru is working in partnership with Diverse Cymru, and the following organisations have also supported and contributed to Hynt:
- Disability Arts Cymru
- Disability Wales
- Action on Hearing loss
- Cartrefi
- MIND Cymru
- Alzheimer’s Society
- Swansea Association for Independent Living
- Contact a Family Wales
Hynt is the only national access scheme that we know of. There are other schemes, such as the Cinema Exhibitors Association (CEA) card scheme which is designed for cinemas, but the criteria and application process are different. There are also other types of card available, like the CredAbility card, which identifies access requirements but does not guarantee the cardholder any type of discount or a ticket free-of-charge for their carer.
Hynt has members all across Wales and we are working hard to grow the number of participating theatres and arts centres. It is the choice of individual venues whether or not they sign up to the scheme.
There are a number of existing local access schemes that have been developed by theatres and arts centres over the last few years.
We know that having lots of different schemes at different venues can be confusing and time-consuming for customers. Creating a single scheme with one application form and a consistent offer of a ticket free-of-charge for a carer or personal assistant should make it easier for audiences.
Hynt is a network of theatres and arts centres across Wales. So that you can use your card in any Hynt venue, they all need to know which customers are Hynt card holders. For this reason we ask all customers who are part of the Hynt scheme to enable us to share some information, such as a full name and contact details.
We do not hold any personal information that customers do not wish to share and we do not hold details of impairments or medical conditions. We take our Data Protection responsibility very seriously and comply with the Data Protection Act.
We welcome any feedback or comments: it is important to us that Hynt is peer-led and continues to develop, so please do get in touch. Please send your any comments or feedback to Megan Merrett, Projects Administrator, via info@hynt.co.uk
the hynt card
All Hynt card holders are entitled to a ticket, free-of-charge for their personal assistant or carer when attending performances at any of the Hynt theatres or arts centres.
Hynt has a network of participating theatres and arts centres. You can use your card at any of these venues.
Full terms and conditions of the Hynt card are available here.
The Hynt card displays:
- a photograph of the cardholder
- the name of the cardholder
- the card expiry date
- a unique customer reference number
- a location notch to aid use by blind or partially sighted cardholders
The card is issued to, and printed with, the name and photograph of the customer, not the person providing assistance. This is because we know that care is given by a variety of people, and may not always be the same person. The accompanying person can be anyone who is able to provide the appropriate care and support so could be a parent, family member, partner, spouse, friend, care worker or someone else.
We only need one photograph. The photograph needs to be a good likeness, recent, clear and in focus, with nothing obscuring your face: there must also be no tears or creases in the photograph.
If you apply by email, we are happy to receive a photograph attached as a jpeg file.
If you have lost your card forever or it has been stolen, please email us on info@hynt.co.uk with the full name and post code of the hynt cardholder and we will replace the lost card.
We would be very grateful if you could let us know if your card does turn up as it costs us £5 to replace each lost hynt card.
The Hynt card is free. Hynt is funded by the participating theatres and arts centres.
We will post your card back to you within 7 working days of your application being checked. If there is information missing from your application, or if your application is for Arbitration then the process will take a bit longer.
When we receive your application we need to check:
- the form is fully completed
- there is proof of eligibility
- there is a usable photograph
All information is handled in compliance with the Data Protection Act. You can read our Privacy Policy here.
Don’t worry, you don’t need to do anything and there is no need to reapply. You’re still a member and no one’s card will run out. We are not renewing the cards as we are extending the validity. We’ve told all hynt venues to ignore the expiry date and anyone who joins from now on has a “valid from” date rather than “expires” date on their card.
We’ve issued far more cards than initially predicted, which is great but does mean that replacing them all had a huge cost. We believe that money is better spent on more venue staff accessibility training and developing our box office systems to enable online booking.
If you’ve changed address or have any other details that you need to update, just email info@hynt.co.uk or phone 01244 526001.
eligibility criteria
There are two application routes available for Hynt
You can complete the application form and include evidence that demonstrates you meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Enhanced and Standard PIP Daily Living Component
- DLA High and Middle Rate Care Component
- High Rate Attendance Allowance
- Certificate of Visual Impairment
- War Disablement Pension
- Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP)
- Direct Payments
- Social Services Care Package
- Continuous Healthcare Package
- Dual Sensory impairment
Or if you are not automatically eligible you can use Route 2
You will need to send us some paperwork that confirms that you meet our automatic eligibility criteria. We need to see a copy of one of the following documents:
- A letter from the Department of Work and Pensions that confirms you are in receipt of one of the benefits listed
- A letter from the relevant Local Authority confirming that you are in receipt of Social Services Care Package, Continuing Healthcare Package or registered for Direct Payments
- A Certificate of Visual Impairment
Documents must be sent as a photocopy or scanned via email. Please do not send originals.
We cannot return original documents so please only send copies of any paperwork.
Once your application had been processed your documents and application form will be destroyed and securely disposed of. No copies of documents will be held.
We need all Hynt cardholders to share some personal information (such as a full name and contact details) across the Hynt venues. Without this information the theatres and arts centres won’t know who is part of Hynt, and the scheme won’t work effectively. All information is kept on a secure database that is only shared with the Hynt theatres and arts centres.
We do not hold any personal information that you do not wish to share and we do not hold details of impairments or medical conditions.
We take our responsibility as guardians of this information very seriously and comply with the Data Protection Act.
Hynt is based on the level of care customers need to be able to attend a performance.
We know that sometimes mobility can be a barrier to attending and we are working with Hynt venues to help them to better support customers who have mobility challenges.
If you feel that you really do need additional care to be able to attend because of your impairment or specific access requirement then you could also try applying via Arbitration.
Hynt prioritises people with the highest needs, anyone who is in need of additional support to attend the theatre.
Hynt is peer-led and we have worked with disabled people, third sector organisations and theatres and arts centres to create a fair and equitable criteria. Hynt ensures that those who require the support and assistance of a carer or personal assistant are not faced with the financial barrier of buying an additional ticket in order to be able to attend performances.
We recognise that this may mean that some customers who had previously been entitled to a free or discounted seat under a pre-existing scheme may no longer be automatically eligible. If you feel that you really do need additional care to be able to attend because of your impairment or specific access requirement then you could also try applying via Arbitration.
If you receive the lower rate DLA you are not automatically eligible for Hynt.
The majority of theatres and arts centres do offer concessions for disabled customers, so reductions may be available for the performance you want to see. Please check the website or ticket information of the individual theatre you are visiting.
We know that having automatic eligibility criteria could automatically make a scheme feel exclusive rather than inclusive. If you are not automatically eligible for Hynt but you feel that you really do need additional care to be able to attend because of your impairment or specific access requirement then you could also try applying via Arbitration.
Arbitration also acts as an appeals system, so if your application is unsuccessful you can ask for your application to be reviewed by Arbitration.
Arbitration is supported by a network of third sector organisations and is monitored and managed by Diverse Cymru. You can find out more about Arbitration here.
booking tickets
Where possible you will need to allow enough time for your application to be processed so you are in possession of your card and unique customer reference number before booking your tickets for the performance.
If you haven’t already applied for Hynt it is up to the manager on duty at the venue to decide if they will offer you a one-off ticket free-of-charge. This is a one-time only offer and cannot be repeated. You will need to give the theatre your contact details and you will be expected to apply to Hynt in order to access a ticket, free-of-charge, for any future performances at any participating venues.
Some theatres and arts centres operate a limit on the number of Carer’s tickets available for specific shows. This is not something that we at Hynt support. We believe that there should be no limit on the number of Carer’s tickets available for any show.
The main reason for a limit to Carer’s tickets is that the company organising the performance (we call them producers or promoters), not the theatre, has set a limit on the number of tickets that they are willing to sell at a reduced price. This means the theatre or arts centre has to pay for any extra tickets that they want to give away. All the theatres and arts centres in our network are publicly funded and it is very difficult for them to find extra money to be able to make up any shortfall.
We understand that this is very frustrating for customers so we are working with the theatres and arts centres in our network to influence the promoters and producers. We want to get them to remove the limit that they impose on tickets so that theatres and arts centres are always able to offer a ticket free of charge for a Carer to someone who needs it.
Yes, membership of the scheme entitles the disabled person to a ticket, free of charge for their carer or personal assistant, whoever that may be. We know that care is provided in a variety of different ways both formal and informal. We do not require the disabled customer to have a single named carer.
You will need to give the unique reference number on booking and present the card when you collect your tickets.
Theatres and arts centres have different policies regarding social groups.
Generally speaking if you are making a social group booking then each disabled customer within that group will need to have their own Hynt card for them to be able to claim their ticket, free-of-charge for a personal assistant / carer.
If you have any further questions, comments or queries please get in touch: info@hynt.co.uk