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St Hilda's Church and Visitor Centre

Church Walk, Headland, Hartlepool, TS24 0DA

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Access Guide

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Introduction

  • Services / facilities within the building include a church and a visitor centre.

Location

  • There is a bus stop within 150m (164yds) of the venue.
  • The nearest National Rail station is Hartlepool.

Opening Hours

Inside Access

  • There is level access to the service(s).
  • There is a hearing assistance system.
  • The system is a fixed loop.
  • Staff are trained to use the system.
  • This venue does play background music.
  • Music is played throughout the church during services and concerts.
  • Motorised scooters are welcomed in public parts of the venue.
  • The lighting levels are varied.

Parking

  • The venue does not have its own car park.

Outside Access (High Street Churchyard Entrance)

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located off High Street.
    • There is ramped/sloped and stepped access at this entrance.
    • There are no doors at this entrance.
    • The width of the door opening is 212cm.
  • Ramp/Slope View
    • The ramp/slope is located immediately beyond the entrance.
    • The gradient of the ramp/slope is steep.
    • The ramp/slope does not bypass the step(s).
  • Step(s) View
    • The step(s) is/are located in front of the entrance.
    • There is/are 3 step(s).
    • The step(s) is/are not clearly marked.
    • The height of the step(s) is/are not between 15cm and 18cm.
    • The height of the step(s) is/are 19cm.
    • There is not a/are not handrail(s) at the step(s).

Outside Access (St Hilda Close Churchyard Entrance)

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located on St Hilda Close.
    • There is ramped/sloped access at this entrance.
    • There are no doors at this entrance.
    • The width of the door opening is 263cm.
  • Ramp/Slope View
    • The ramp/slope is located immediately beyond the entrance.
    • The gradient of the ramp/slope is slight.

Outside Access (Main Church Entrance)

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located at the rear right of the church as you enter via the St Hilda Close Churchyard entrance.
    • There is ramped/sloped access at this entrance.
    • The main door(s) open(s) away from you (push).
    • The door(s) is/are double width.
    • The width of the door opening is 132cm.
    • There is a small lip on the threshold of the entrance, with a height of 2cm or below.
    • There is a second set of doors.
    • The door(s) open(s) towards you (pull).
  • Ramp/Slope View
    • The ramp/slope is located between the second and third set of doors.
    • The gradient of the ramp/slope is slight.
    • The ramp/slope is permanent.
    • There is not a level landing at the top of the ramp/slope.
    • There is not a/are not handrail(s) at the ramp.
  • Comments View
    • There is an identical entrance at the front right of the church as you enter via the St Hilda Close Churchyard entrance.
    • The entrance which is open varies depending on the direction of the prevailing winds.
    • There is a third set of doors.
    • The doors open away from you (push).
    • The doors are double.
    • The doors are heavy.
    • The clear door width is 144cm.
    • The doors are permanently held open at the start and end of services.

Eating and Drinking

  • The following information is for the café.
  • The café is located ahead as you enter the building.
  • Food or drinks are ordered from the service counter.
  • Food or drinks can be brought to the table.
  • There is not a lowered section at the counter.
  • No tables are permanently fixed.
  • No chairs are permanently fixed.
  • No chairs have armrests.
  • The nearest table is approximately 2m (2yd 7in) from the main entrance.
  • The standard height for tables is 62cm.
  • There is ample room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre.
  • Plastic / takeaway cups are not available.
  • Plastic / takeaway cutlery is not available.
  • Drinking straws are available.
  • The type of food served here is teas, coffees and cakes.

Chapel

  • The chapel is located ahead as you enter the church.
  • The worship area is 6m from the third set of doors at the main entrance.
  • There is level access to the worship area.
  • There are no doors to enter the worship area.
  • There clear width of the entrance to the worship area is 152cm.
  • There are seats in the nave.
  • The seats are not fixed.
  • The seats do not have armrests.
  • There is not designated seating.
  • The seats can be moved to create room for a wheelchair user.
  • There are 2 clearly marked, medium height steps between the nave and the chancel.
  • The steps do not have handrails.
  • There is an easy ramp to overcome the steps.
  • The minimum width of the ramp is 86cm.
  • There is a handrail on the left going up.
  • The steps and ramp give access to the choir and communion rail.
  • There are 2 clearly marked, shallow steps leading from the chancel to the sanctuary.
  • The steps do not have handrails.
  • There are 2 easy ramps to overcome the steps.
  • The minimum width of the ramps is 76cm.
  • The ramps do not have handrails.

Museum (Visitor Centre)

  • Exhibits cannot be audio described.
  • Tactile signage for exhibits is not available.
  • The availability of tactile signage does not depend on exhibition.
  • Braille signage for exhibits is not available.
  • The availability of Braille signage does not depend on exhibition.
  • Touch tours are not available.
  • Video tours are not available.
  • There is a hearing assistance system.
  • The hearing system is a fixed loop.
  • Staff are trained to use the hearing system.
  • There is not a wheelchair to borrow.
  • Comments View
    • The visitor centre is located in the left and right aisles of the nave.

Accessible Toilet

  • Accessible toilet facilities are available.
  • Location and Access View
    • The toilet is not for the sole use of disabled people.
    • There is no signage on or near the toilet door.
    • This accessible toilet is approximately 4m (4yd 1ft) from the main entrance.
    • This accessible toilet is located between the second and third set of doors, opposite the third set of doors.
    • There is level access to this accessible toilet.
  • Features and Dimensions View
    • This is a unisex toilet.
    • A key is not required for the accessible toilet.
    • The door opens inwards.
    • The door is locked by a sliding bolt.
    • The width of the accessible toilet door is 69cm (2ft 3in).
    • The door is heavy.
    • The dimensions of the accessible toilet are 134cm x 208cm (4ft 5in x 6ft 10in).
    • There is not sufficient turning space in the cubicle for a wheelchair user.
    • There is a lateral transfer space.
    • As you face the toilet pan the transfer space is on the left.
    • The lateral transfer space is 108cm (3ft 7in).
    • There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
    • There is a flush on the transfer side.
    • The tap type is lever.
    • There is a mixer tap.
    • There is not an emergency alarm.
    • Disposal facilities are available in the cubicle.
    • There is a/are waste paper pedal bin disposal units.
    • There is a/are coat hook(s).
  • Position of Fixtures View
    • Wall mounted grab rails are available for the toilet.
    • As you face the toilet the wall-mounted grab rails are on both sides.
    • There is not a shelf within the accessible toilet.
    • There is a mirror.
    • Mirrors are not placed at a lower level or at an angle for ease of use.
    • The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 47cm (1ft 7in).
    • There is not a hand dryer.
    • There is a towel dispenser.
    • The towel dispenser cannot be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The towel dispenser is placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • The height of the towel dispenser is 113cm (3ft 8in).
    • There is a toilet roll holder.
    • The toilet roll holder can be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The toilet roll holder is not placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • There is a wash basin.
    • The wash basin can be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is not placed higher than 74cm (2ft 5in).
  • Colour Contrast and Lighting View
    • The contrast between the external door and wall is poor.
    • There is a low colour contrast between the internal door and wall.
    • The contrast between the wall-mounted grab rail(s) and wall is good.
    • There is a good colour contrast between the dropdown rail(s) and wall.
    • The contrast between the walls and floor is poor.
    • The lighting levels are medium.
  • Comments View
    • There is a door which opens outwards and is over 75cm wide between the first and second set of doors at the alternative entrance. This was not in use at the time of the survey.

Standard Toilet(s)

Additional Info

  • Staff do not receive disability awareness / equality training.
  • Documents are not available in Braille.
  • Documents are available in large print.
  • A bowl of water can be provided for an assistance dog.
  • An assistance dog toilet area can be provided onsite.
  • The assistance dog toilet area is located in the church grounds.
  • A member of staff trained in BSL skills is not normally on duty.
  • Home visits / services are available.