Oliver Waterhouse
Quaker Life

Hello everyone,

Sorry for the delay with the notes from last week’s meeting.

Last week’s session was an opportunity to hear about accessibility issues that affect Quaker premises. The session has been directed at venues rather than those with accessibility needs to try to identify ways to be inclusive.

The next online session will be on Tuesday, 15 August at 2pm. The joining details are below and will also be shared again by email nearer the time.

Join Zoom Meeting: https://quaker.zoom.us/j/81586087624?pwd=VHk3MW9sTHJUVDdsMFlTMUN3WEpmUT09
Meeting ID: 815 8608 7624
Passcode: WT-online

The next in-person session is going to be on Tuesday, 18 July and will be in Leeds at Carlton Hill Meeting House. You can register to attend using this online form, https://forms.quaker.org.uk/mhm-23/. Part of this session will be held blended enabling online and in-person participation.

PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU REGISTER IN ADVANCE OF COMING IN PERSON SO WE KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE THERE WILL BE!

Notes

The first part of the session was help in breakout rooms to identify what is currently in place in our meeting houses and what we would like to put into place in the future.

Feedback from the breakout groups

Current position for those present

Lots of places with step-free access.
High contrast painting or taping on steps where they have not been able to be replaced.
Many accessible toilets but an example of the wheelchair space to one side of the toilet being used as storage space.
Flashing lights linked to alarms for people with hearing impairments.
Hearing loop.
Blended equipment in many Quaker premises.

Challenges

Listed buildings, trying not to be held back by planning restrictions.
Meeting room doors not wide enough to meet British standards.

Solutions

Alarms not loud enough in toilet so additional sounders added.
Frame put into a restricted toilet space to enable people to get up more easily.
Bringing a disability group or people with disabilities to make suggestions about improvements.
Not giving up at the first hurdle, especially where planning restrictions are in place.
Disability access audit at area meeting level.
Stick a photo of each cupboard (full) and stick it to the cupboard so people know what is in the cupboard.
Whole building is flat on one level and many groups use the building.
Provide a safe haven for lots of groups who feel the building is 'theirs'.
Need to respond to requests for things to be changed, this is great for customer satisfaction and will bring a wider range of people into our premises.
Disability awareness training to get better informed about the types of access needs, attitudes, language etc.
Adjustable surfaces in kitchens and other areas. Think about this at the time refurbishment is being planned, not when it is being installed.
Holistic approach to accessibility which benefit everyone overall rather than having them as add-ons.

Support

Quaker Disability Equality Group (QDEG) has advice and guidance on their website:

Sample access audit: https://quakerdisabilitygroup.org.uk/sample-basic-access-audit-form/
Template LM accessibility statement: https://quakerdisabilitygroup.org.uk/sample-access-statement/

Grants

There are a couple of places that offer specific grants for upgrading premises to be more accessible or to help with feasibility assessment for carrying out improvement work on buildings.

BYM Meeting Houses Funds: www.quaker.org.uk/our-work/grant-making/meeting-houses-fund
BYM Sawell Family Fund: www.quaker.org.uk/our-work/grant-making/sawell-family-fund-grants-for-meeting-houses
National Churches Trust: www.nationalchurchestrust.org/get-support/buildings-maintenance/major-grant-funders
Through the Roof (collection of grant providers) specific grants for accessibility improvements: https://throughtheroof.org/forchurches/obtaining-funding-to-make-disability-related-improvements/

In friendship,

Oliver

Oliver Waterhouse (he/him)

Quaker Life Team Leader, Local and Area Governance

Quakers in Britain

020 7663 1007 (Direct)

oliverw@quaker.org.uk | www.quaker.org.uk

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