ZSL London Zoo has pledged to make 100,000 tickets available at subsidised rates and is inviting community groups to apply to the scheme.
The scheme will run until 2023 and tickets are available to the elderly, those with additional needs or disabilities and low income families. It has been made possible through £4.5m funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Subsidised tickets are priced at £3.00 for families on low income and £6.50 for the elderly and people with additional needs or disabilities.
Unsubsidised tickets for the London Zoo are priced between £23.40 and £31.50.
Registered charities, community interest companies and established voluntary or community groups can apply for a minimum allocation of 10 subsidised tickets.
The scheme is currently only available to groups in Camden and Westminster, but ZSL said it has an ambition to widen that geographical scope.
Barriers to a day at the zoo
Kathryn England, chief operating officer at ZSL London Zoo, said: “Through our local Community Access Scheme supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, we’ve realised there’s several underrepresented groups in society that currently feel unable to come to the zoo because of a number of barriers, but we want to change that.
“Through a series of focus groups and feedback events with local communities, we’ve learnt so much.
“From understanding how we can better support people with assistance dogs while maintaining our high standards of animal welfare, to installing a Changing Places toilet on-site, we’ve already made some really big improvements.
She added that ZSL wants to lead by example, by reaching communities in spite of challenges on accessibility in its historic buildings.
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