Access Guide
Introduction
- Services / facilities within the building include The venue offers live streamed and pre-recorded services. The pre-recorded services have subtitles.
-
Comments
View
- Sunderland Minster is a historic place of Christian worship within the Church of England and a place of meeting, learning, belonging and celebrating for the people of Sunderland.
- They offer a Refugee Drop In, Messy Church for children and a part of the Inclusive Church Network.
COVID-19 Information
- The information in this section was taken in March 2021.
- There is not a member of staff available at the entrance.
- There is hand sanitiser available at the entrance.
- The hand sanitisers are wall mounted.
- There is a limited number of people allowed inside.
- There is not a one-way system throughout.
- There is clear signage inside to help with social distancing.
- Toilets are available.
- For more information about the measures in place for Covid-19 please click here (new tab) .
Opening Times
- Monday 09:00 - 15:00.
- Tuesday 09:00 - 15:00.
- Wednesday 09:00 - 15:00.
- Thursday 09:00 - 15:00.
- Friday 09:00 - 15:00.
- Saturday Closed.
- Sunday Closed.
-
Comments
View
- The venue is also open on Sundays for services.
- Please contact the venue for further information.
Location
- There is a bus stop within 150m (164yds) of the venue.
- The nearest National Rail station is Sunderland.
- The nearest Metro Station is Sunderland.
Parking
- The venue does not have its own car park.
-
Public Car Parks
View
- There is a car park for public use within 200m (approx).
- The name of the car park is Bridges Car Park.
- The car park is located in Green Terrace.
-
On Street Blue Badge Parking
View
- On street marked Blue Badge bays are available.
- On street Blue Badge parking is located in High Street West.
-
On Street Standard Parking
View
- Clearly signed and / or standard marked parking bays are not available.
-
Drop-off Point
View
- There is not a designated drop off point.
-
Comments
View
- The Blue Badge parking is not marked into individual bays.
Outside Access (South Entrance)
-
Entrance
View
- This information is for the entrance located at the side of the venue.
- There is ramped/sloped and stepped access at this entrance.
- There is not a bell/buzzer.
- There is not an intercom.
- The main door(s) open(s) towards you (pull).
- The door(s) is/are double width but one door is locked.
- The door(s) is/are permanently held open.
- The width of the door opening is 68cm.
- There is a second set of doors.
- The door(s) open(s) towards you (pull).
- The door(s) is/are single width.
- The door(s) is/are permanently held open.
- The width of the door opening is 81cm.
-
Ramp/Slope
View
- The ramp/slope is located to the left and right of the entrance.
- The gradient of the ramp/slope is slight.
- The ramp/slope is permanent.
- There is a level landing at the top of the ramp/slope.
- The ramp/slope does not bypass the step(s).
-
Step(s)
View
- The step(s) is/are located beyond the first entrance door.
- There is/are 1 step(s).
- The step(s) is/are not clearly marked.
- The height of the step(s) is/are between 15cm and 18cm.
- The height of the step(s) is/are 11cm.
- There is not a/are not handrail(s) at the step(s).
-
Comments
View
- The second entrance has a single door to the left and the right, as seen in photographs 3 and 4.
- There is a third door, as seen in photograph 5.
- This door opens towards you automatically.
- The door is single.
- The door is 81cm wide.
Outside Access (North Entrance)
-
Entrance
View
- This information is for the entrance located at the north side of the building.
- There is ramped/sloped and stepped access at this entrance.
- There is not a bell/buzzer.
- There is not an intercom.
- The main door(s) open(s) towards you (pull).
- The door(s) is/are double width but one door is locked.
- The door(s) is/are permanently held open.
- The width of the door opening is 67cm.
- There is a second set of doors.
- The door(s) open(s) towards you (pull).
- The door(s) is/are single width.
- The door(s) is/are permanently held open.
- The width of the door opening is 84cm.
-
Ramp/Slope
View
- The ramp/slope is located to the left of the entrance.
- 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.
- The ramp/slope does not bypass the step(s).
-
Step(s)
View
- The step(s) is/are located to the left of the entrance.
- There is/are 5 step(s).
- The step(s) is/are not clearly marked.
- The height of the step(s) is/are between 15cm and 18cm.
- The height of the step(s) is/are 12cm.
- There is not a/are not handrail(s) at the step(s).
-
Comments
View
- This entrance is only used when weather permits.
- The second entrance door has a similar door to the right that is kept closed, as seen in photograph 3.
- There is a shallow step that is not clearly marked beyond the first set of entrance doors, as seen in photograph 7.
- This step does not have handrails.
- The path to the right of the entrance is uneven, as seen in photograph 8.
Office
- The office is 32m from the south entrance.
- There are 12 deep unmarked steps leading to the office.
- These steps have a handrail to the left.
- Anyone who cannot climb the stairs should ring the bell at the bottom of the steps.
- The height to the bell is 95cm.
Inside Access
- There is not level access to the service(s).
- There is a hearing assistance system.
- The hearing assistance system is available only on request.
- The system is a fixed loop.
- Staff are trained to use the system.
- This venue does not play background music.
- Motorised scooters are allowed in public parts of the venue.
- The lighting levels are varied.
-
Comments
View
- There are several single shallow steps without handrails leading to areas in the venue including the altar.
- These steps are not clearly marked.
Galleries
- In the north and south galleries there are 8 medium unmarked steps leading to fixed bench seating.
- These steps do not have handrails.
Level Change (South Gallery)
- There is a/are step(s) to access this area/service.
- The step(s) is/are located to the left of the south entrance.
- There is/are 15 step(s) to the area/service.
- The lighting levels at the step(s) are medium.
- The step(s) is/are not clearly marked.
- The step(s) is/are medium height (11cm - 17cm).
- There is a/are handrail(s) at the step(s).
- The handrail(s) is/are on the left going up.
-
Comments
View
- The handrails on the steps change to the opposite side with each landing.
- There are similar steps leading to the North Gallery at the north entrance.
Entrance (Meeting Room)
- This information is for the entrance located beyond the second entrance doors at the south entrance.
-
Entrance
View
- There is step-free access at this entrance.
- The main door(s) open(s) automatically.
- The main automatic door(s) is/are push pad or push button activated.
- The push pad or push button is 89cm from floor level.
- The door(s) is/are single width.
- The width of the door opening is 89cm.
-
Comments
View
- There are similar doors at the opposite end of the meeting room that lead into the Minster.
Other Floors
-
Steps
View
- The floors which are accessible by stairs are G, 1.
- There are 12 steps between floors.
- The steps are clearly marked.
- The steps are medium (11cm - 17cm).
- The steps do have handrails.
- The steps have a handrail on the right going up.
- There is a landing.
- The lighting levels are medium.
-
Other
View
- The area(s)/service(s) on the floors which are not accessible is/are the choir room.
Accessible Toilet (Female - Left Transfer)
- Accessible toilet facilities are available.
-
Location and Access
View
- There is pictorial signage on or near the toilet door.
- This accessible toilet is approximately 32m (34yd 2ft) from the south entrance.
- The accessible toilet is located at the rear of the venue.
- There is level access to this accessible toilet.
-
Features and Dimensions
View
- This is not a shared toilet.
- There is a male accessible toilet adjacent.
- A key is not required for the accessible toilet.
- The door opens outwards.
- The door is locked by a sliding bolt.
- The width of the accessible toilet door is 77cm (2ft 6in).
- The door is easy to open.
- The dimensions of the accessible toilet are 180cm x 170cm (5ft 11in x 5ft 7in).
- 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 90cm (2ft 11in).
- There is no dropdown rail for the toilet.
- There is a flush, however it is not on the transfer side.
- The tap type is lever.
- There is not a mixer tap.
- There is not an emergency alarm.
- Disposal facilities are available in the cubicle.
- There is a/are sanitary, non-infectious waste and general domestic waste disposal units.
- There is not a/are not coat hook(s).
-
Position of Fixtures
View
- Wall mounted grab rails are not available for the toilet.
- There is a shelf within the accessible toilet.
- There is not a mirror.
- The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 44cm (1ft 5in).
- There is not a hand dryer.
- There is a towel dispenser.
- The towel dispenser can be reached from seated on the toilet.
- The towel dispenser is placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
- The height of the towel dispenser is 127cm (4ft 2in).
- 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 placed higher than 74cm (2ft 5in).
- The height of the wash basin is 81cm (2ft 8in).
-
Colour Contrast and Lighting
View
- The contrast between the external door and wall is poor.
- The contrast between the internal door and wall is poor.
- The contrast between the walls and floor is good.
- The lighting levels are moderate to good.
-
Baby Change Facilities
View
- Baby change facilities are located within the venue.
- Baby change facilities are located within the accessible toilet.
- The height of the baby change table once extended is 94cm (3ft 1in).
-
Comments
View
- There is a frame around the toilet with handrails on either side.
Accessible Toilet (Male - Right Transfer)
- Accessible toilet facilities are available.
-
Location and Access
View
- There is pictorial and written text signage on or near the toilet door.
- This accessible toilet is approximately 28m (30yd 1ft) from the south entrance.
- The accessible toilet is located at the rear of the venue.
- There is level access to this accessible toilet.
-
Features and Dimensions
View
- This is not a shared toilet.
- There is a female accessible toilet adjacent.
- 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 78cm (2ft 7in).
- The door is easy to open.
- The dimensions of the accessible toilet are 140cm x 160cm (4ft 7in x 5ft 3in).
- 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 right.
- The lateral transfer space is 106cm (3ft 6in).
- There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
- There is a flush, however it is not 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 open waste paper bin disposal units.
- There is not a/are not 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 not a mirror.
- The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 46cm (1ft 6in).
- 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 125cm (4ft 1in).
- 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.
- The contrast between the internal door and wall is poor.
- The contrast between the wall-mounted grab rail(s) and wall is fair.
- The contrast between the dropdown rail(s) and wall is good.
- The contrast between the walls and floor is good.
- The lighting levels are moderate to good.
-
Comments
View
- The facility also contains a urinal.
Standard Toilet(s)
-
Availability and Location of Standard Toilets
View
- Standard toilet facilities are available.
-
Access to Standard Female Toilet(s)
View
- The female toilet facilities that were surveyed are located at the rear of the venue.
- The female toilet(s) is/are approximately 32m (34yd 2ft) from the south entrance.
- Inside the venue, there is level access to the female toilet(s).
- Lighting levels are medium.
-
Access to Standard Male Toilet(s)
View
- The male toilet facilities that were surveyed are located at the rear of the venue.
- The male toilet(s) is/are approximately 28m (30yd 1ft) from the south entrance.
- Inside the venue, there is level access to the male toilet(s).
- Lighting levels are medium.
Additional Info
- Documents are 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 grassy areas around the venue.
- Home visits / services are available.