This is Our Age Festival FAQs
Is the Festival open to all ages?
The Festival is for young people, aged 18 to around 40, and also for younger youth aged 11-18.
Do I have to register for the Festival?
Yes. Tickets are going fast and are limited for health and safety reasons, so please make sure you register before 16th March.
Can I bring my friends who aren’t SGI-UK members to the Festival?
Yes, please make sure you register all your guests before 16th March to avoid disappointment.
For 11-18 year olds, friends of Future Division members of the same age are most welcome, with the consent of their parents or guardians (who will need to register them via the Future Division registration form).
Will the activities be free?
All Festival-related events will be free to all attendees.
Can I bring my young child with me?
As this event is aimed at youth, Indigo (15-18 yrs old) and Rising Phoenixes (11-14 years old), we kindly ask that you do not come with a child under that age because we do not have any facilities for this age group.
Help! I’m registered for the wrong time slot. What can I do?
Please don’t worry. Please just email thisisouragefestival@gmail.com and let us know, and we can swap your times. Please remember to write your full name in the email.
Where are my tickets?
Once you have booked tickets for the morning or afternoon session online via Eventbrite, your tickets will be emailed. You can also download the Eventbrite app from the App Store and Google Play Store.
Do you offer personal assistants/carers tickets?
Please email thisisouragefestival@gmail.com to share that your personal assistant/carer is accompanying you on the day.
Will I be able to park on-site?
Yes. Taplow Court has limited parking onsite which will be allocated on a first come first served basis. The Festival has a morning and an afternoon session (with the same content) to allow for more young people to attend and help manage people and car flows.
Note: Drivers are being warned of long delays as the M25 will be shut in both directions between junctions 10 and 11 in Surrey. The five-mile stretch of carriageway will be closed from 9pm on Friday 15th March until 6am on Monday 18th March. Be mindful that this will affect other routes.
How can I get to Taplow Court by public transport?
Trains run from Paddington Station and Reading Station to Taplow Station. Please check National Rail for the best train route for you: https://www.nationalrail.co.uk
How can I get from Taplow Station to SGI-UK Taplow Court?
We want this festival to be as sustainable as possible so, if you can, please walk the 1.2 miles from Taplow Station to SGI-UK Taplow Court, which takes around 27 minutes (some uphill). This is the route you should take: https://maps.app.goo.gl/
This route walks through Taplow village. There will be support staff to guide you along the route at key points on the day. Please make sure we respect our neighbours while walking through the village.
If you aren’t able to walk to Taplow Court, there will also be drivers from SGI-UK’s Transport Group meeting trains at Taplow Station from both directions between 9.30am and 11am, and 1.30pm and 3.00pm. Booking ahead is advised and only available on the day: the phone number for booking transport just prior to your arrival to Taplow Station is 01628 773163.
Alternatively, you can book a local taxi or Uber from Taplow Station to Taplow Court.
How can I get from SGI-UK Taplow Court to Taplow Station?
On the day, you can book your transport back to Taplow station at the information desk. Please note transport is provided only to/from Taplow station.
Alternatively, you can book a local taxi or Uber from Taplow Court to Taplow Station.
Is the morning session (10am-1pm) the same as the afternoon session (2-5pm)?
Yes, they are the same. Please only register for one session.
Do I need to bring my Eventbrite ticket to the Festival?
Yes, please. This will be checked as you arrive and exchanged for your festival wristband.
Do I need to arrive at a certain time?
Please arrive as early as possible to the start time.
The morning session will open at 10am and you will be guided through the registration area into the main area. There will be a festival opening event at 10.30am.
The afternoon session will open at 2pm and you will be guided through the registration area into the main area. There will be a festival opening event at 2.30pm.
What if I arrive slightly later than the opening time?
We understand that various obstacles can arise when it comes to travel. We will have a welcome team on hand to welcome you when you arrive for your session. Thank you for your efforts!
What time do I need to leave?
We are expecting a very busy day. So that everybody who has booked can freely enjoy the festival, please leave promptly after your session ends.
I can no longer attend. Do I need to cancel my booking?
Yes. Tickets are going fast, so do get in touch to let us know if for any reason you may not be able to make it so we can free up tickets to other attendees.
I’m between the ages of 11-17 and being brought by a parent or guardian. What can they do while I’m at the Festival?
When you arrive, you will be introduced to a ‘Future Division supporter’. There will be a separate activity for parents, guardians and those bringing young people to attend the Festival in Josei Toda Hall and the house at Taplow Court. Rest assured, they will be well looked-after!
Do I need to bring my own food to the Festival?
Let’s have a picnic! Please bring anything you would like to have for a picnic, and you are welcome to eat either in the canteen or, if the weather permits, on the beautiful grounds of Taplow Court.
Will food be provided?
There will be a limited selection of complimentary snacks, organic and locally sourced, in the No Hunger Zone. If you have special dietary requirements, please make sure you bring your own food to join the picnic!
We’re on a mission to make the Festival as inclusive as it can be. We have tried to make the festival as wheelchair friendly as possible. This includes disabled parking spaces and wheelchair accessible toilets. If you have any questions, please get in touch at thisisouragefestival@gmail.com. Support staff will be identifiable on the day. Please speak to someone if you are in need of assistance.
Deaf and hard of hearing attendees
There will be a palantypist to transcribe what is being shared in the Sound Stage area. Access to this will be shared before the activity in the area begins.
Festival attendees can bring their trained guide dogs and assistance dogs.
Blind and visually impaired attendees
Festival attendees can bring their trained guide dogs and assistance dogs.
Quiet space
The festival wants to be a safe and happy place for everyone to enjoy. However, the size of the site and the large crowds mixed in with all the different sounds, lights, smells and experiences can be overwhelming. A Chill Out room, which will be clearly signposted, will provide a safe, low-level stimulation and recalibration space.
Dog Policy
To ensure that everyone can feel at ease during the Festival Taplow Court has a no dogs on site policy. Of course we welcome guide and assistant dogs. Please advise us here thisisouragefestival@gmail.com if you are assisted by a guide or assistance dog.
Access map
See the map of the grounds here: thisisourage.co.uk/festival-map
Will there be a designated safeguarding lead on site?
Yes. There will be a designated safeguarding lead for the festival as well as a large team of safeguarding supervisors to support the 11-18 year old participants. They will be identified with a distinctive lanyard.
Are dogs allowed on-site?
Dogs are not allowed on site except guide and service dogs. See the Accessibility section regarding trained guide dogs and assistance dogs.
Prohibited items
We want this to be a safe space for everyone. This will be an alcohol-free festival. Drug enforcement laws are as applicable on the Festival site as anywhere else in the country and won’t be tolerated.
Where can I find out more about the Areas of the Festival?
Please see the Areas here: thisisourage.co.uk/festival-map/
Will there be photography or filming on the day?
Please note that filming/photography will take place at the This is Our Age Festival. The photographs and recordings made are likely to appear on official SGI/Soka Gakkai’s (Japan and overseas) and SGI-UK’s websites, publications and social channels. If you would prefer not to be photographed, please let the photographer(s) know. They will be wearing distinctive lanyards.
Please refer to SGI-UK privacy policy as it contains important information on who we are and how and why we collect, store, use and share your personal information as well as your rights.
Can I share photos and videos from the Festival on social media?
We want this to be a safe and enjoyable space for everyone, so please be mindful of what you’re sharing on social media. We would encourage you to not to post any clearly identifiable images of a person on social media platforms but, if you do post photos of identifiable faces and personal features, please make sure you have consent from them first. Please don’t include people under 18 in your social posts, or anyone with a neon pink wristband (who has specifically requested not to be photographed).
Do get in touch with the Festival registration team at thisisouragefestival@gmail.com if you have any further questions.
We look forward to welcoming you to SGI-UK at Taplow Court on 16th March!
