Tracey Emin voices TfL disabilities announcements

Dame Tracey Emin is urging people to give up their seats in new London Tube announcements aimed at raising awareness of non-visible disabilities.

The artist's announcements mark Transport for London's (TfL) annual Priority Seating Week, which encourages travellers to look around to see whether someone else may be in greater need of a seat.

Dame Tracey, 62, was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2020 and underwent life-saving surgery involving a urostomy. She now lives with a stoma bag.

She said: "Through my own experiences of cancer, which led me to having a stoma, I know just how much of an impact a health condition or disability can have on something like standing on a train."

Dame Tracey is widely considered as one of Britain's most acclaimed artists.

She added: "Any one of us can have a health condition or disability, and because many of these don't have outward cues, that might mean people miss out on things that would really help them, like getting a seat on public transport."

"If you're out and about in London, please do offer your seat if you don't need it yourself – you never know what a difference you could make."

The announcement echoes TfL's reminder that not all health conditions are visible.

It will be played at 10 central London Underground stations, including Bank, Canary Wharf and Liverpool Street, as well as at several bus stations, until 17 May.

Giovanni Cinque, campaigns manager at Colostomy UK, said difficulties on public transport were not always visible but could be "distressing", adding that "a small act of kindness like offering a seat can have a significant impact".

TfL's Priority Seating Week, now in its eighth year, will also include events across the network and the introduction of stickers on DLR train doors to highlight accessibility bays.

Staff at Ealing Broadway, Ilford, Paddington, Romford and Woolwich Elizabeth Line stations will hand out "Please Offer Me A Seat", "Baby on Board" and "Babies on Board" badges to customers who need them.

Emma Strain, TfL's customer director, said: "Disabilities and health conditions can affect anyone and vary from person to person, impacting people in ways we might not expect – and in many cases you simply can't tell someone has one just from their appearance."

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