*Get Kelly To Cannes*

We're raising £6000 to get Kelly Gordon , co-founder of With Not For to the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity. This isn't just about one person attending an event – it's about ensuring disabled talent has a seat at the table where the industry's most important decisions are made.

Kelly is currently unable to join Co-Founder Emma Gardner in Cannes, due to the extra costs incurred because she is a wheelchair user.

This campaign is about more than one person attending one event. It's about demonstrating that the industry will support accessible participation when presented with a actionable solution. Kelly's presence at Cannes will prove that the industry DOES open its doors, create opportunities for disabled talent.

The funds we raise will cover essential accessibility requirements that non-Disabled attendees never have to consider:

⛔️Accessible transportation: Eurostar travel for Kelly and her PA plus a wheelchair-accessible van with a driver

⛔️Accommodation modifications: Ramps and mobility equipment to make the pre-booked “accessible” villa actually accessible

⛔️An accessible and mobile bathroom solution that can also be used by other wheelchair users in Cannes.

Why We Need It

The advertising industry has a massive representation problem. Despite Disabled people making up 24% of the population, they remain virtually invisible in advertising roles. When industry events like Cannes Lions – where million-pound campaigns are born and careers are made – remain inaccessible, we perpetuate a cycle of exclusion.

Kelly has already been invited to the festival, but an invitation doesn't equal access. The additional costs of accessible travel, accommodation, and support services create financial barriers that don't exist for non-Disabled attendees.

This isn't about charity – it's about removing artificial obstacles that prevent exceptional talent from participating in industry-defining moments.

Why Kelly Wants This

Kelly knows that representation matters. When she shows up in spaces where Disabled people are typically absent, it forces the industry to confront its accessibility gaps and creates opportunities for With Not For’s growing network of Disabled talent. Working alongside Emma Gardner, Kelly forms half of a formidable partnership that's reshaping industry attitudes.

As Kelly puts it: "Emma's going to have to work her arse off... Emma will tell everyone, but I'm the Closer; I need to be there." Their dynamic is crucial – Emma handles the strategic networking and delivery, while Kelly's presence creates the visibility and authentic conversations that build partnerships that convert interest into action.

Kelly's presence at Cannes isn't just personal advancement – it's about opening doors for an entire community of emerging creatives who've been locked out. She's prepared for the barriers she'll face at Cannes itself, but Kelly wants to focus her energy on what she does best: showcasing exceptional creative talent and building bridges between brands and underrepresented talent.

So does Alex….

Why Alex Is Involved

Alex Hedges is a production recruiter in advertising and founder of Curious Connections. When she saw Kelly's LinkedIn post about potentially missing Cannes, she felt immediate frustration. "It drives me mad," Alex says, "that everyone else will be posting pictures of themselves having rosé on yachts while you can't even get there."

As a recruiter who places production talent across the advertising industry, Alex has an extensive network of creatives, producers, and executives who attend Cannes Lions year after year. Many of these industry professionals have the means and motivation to help – they just need to be shown how. Alex recognised that her connections could be the bridge between Kelly's need and the industry's capacity to support change.

Curious Connections is spearheading this campaign in partnership with With Not For, not as a charity initiative, but as an industry equity action. Alex brings production expertise, extensive industry contacts, and a network of amplification partners who can help spread the campaign message. Her involvement represents the kind of allyship the industry needs – using privilege and connections to level the playing field and ensure Kelly's presence is very much seen at this year's festival.

This partnership between Curious Connections and With Not For demonstrates how the industry can work together to remove barriers and create meaningful change.

The Barriers

The barriers Kelly faces are both systemic and immediate:

Financial: Accessible travel costs significantly more than standard options. While others might fly budget airlines, Kelly requires Eurostar travel and specialized ground transportation, multiplying costs exponentially.

Logistical: Standard accommodation isn't accessible. French accessibility services require advance booking, often cancel last-minute, and communication barriers complicate simple tasks like booking adapted taxis.

Time: With just 10 days' notice (effectively 7 working days for fundraising), there's no time for traditional funding applications or lengthy approval processes.

Industry: The creative industry consistently underfunds accessibility, treating it as an afterthought rather than an essential consideration. This campaign highlights how individual talent bears the cost of systemic failures.

In a nutshell

The question isn't whether Kelly deserves to be there – she's already been invited. The question is whether we'll remove the barriers that shouldn't exist in the first place.