STUDY VISIT TO UK
22 May 2019
The research trip to Manchester, Great Britain was carried out within 3 (three) active working days, March 20-22, 2019. It was attended by representatives of the following partner organizations under the “PATHWAYS FOR ACCESSIBLE HERITAGE TOURISM” project:
Rhodope National Park Greece;
Local Agency for Economic Development-Razlog;
Union of the Disabled in Bulgaria;
Association “Ecoworld Rhodope” – Smolyan;
Association “Regional Youth Parliament” – Kardzhali
The project “Paths for accessible tourism” (“Access to Heritage”) aims to support the sustainable development of cultural tourism in the cross-border region Greece-Bulgaria and to establish it as an international destination for accessible tourism, including people with disabilities and chronic diseases, elderly people and their families. In particular, the Project seeks to create conditions for the exchange and transfer of know-how and good practices related to the improvement of the accessibility of cultural and natural structures, which will lead to the improvement of the accessibility and visitation of assets/objects of cultural and natural heritage in the cross-border region region.
The activity “Exploratory Visits Abroad”, part of the Work Program “Initiatives beyond the cross-border territory and abroad” seeks to improve the capacity of project partners through information, know-how and knowledge on accessible tourism and tourism for the elderly in leading European countries . Subsequently, by implementing the awareness-raising (public events) and capacity-building (training) activities, the partners will be able to contribute at the local level to the capacity-building of the authorities responsible for the management of cultural and natural heritage assets, as well as and tourism professionals to meet the needs of adult tourism and accessible tourism at a higher quality level.
The study trip to Manchester, England, UK aims to familiarize with disability policy and accessible tourism in the UK; with Manchester as the UK’s second tourist center and its accessibility policy and its accessible tourist sites; as well as affordable education at the University of Manchester.
Tasks – Familiarity with good examples and transfer of know-how in the field of accessible cultural and historical tourism, policies for people with disabilities and accessible urban environments, as well as accessible university education. The activity contributes substantially to the implementation of the main objective of the project.
Attendees looked at access for seniors and people with disabilities at the Whitworth Gallery and Gardens.
Visited:
– The University of Manchester (University of Manchester) – one of the largest universities in Great Britain, providing special care for people with various disabilities. In the Department of Disability Counseling and Support/Directorate of the Student Experience and were hosted by Disability Counselor Alison Hassett. An interesting and very valuable presentation was given by Alison on the accessibility services and support provided by the university for students with disabilities;
– The Manchester Visitor Information Center in Piccadilly Square, where they learned about the accessible tourist sites of the city of Manchester, as well as the accessible cultural sites and events.
– The Manchester Town Hall/City Council building – premises for providing services to citizens, including the elderly and citizens with disabilities. With the exception of the clock tower, the rest of the building is easily accessible by wheelchair via the available elevators
– At a meeting held with Ms Jill Wright – Project Development Manager and member of the Manchester Disability Accessibility Group at her workplace Victoria Baths she shared in a friendly and helpful discussion Manchester City Authority’s approach and methodology for ensuring accessibility of the city – based on excellent planning and carried out in cooperation with a wide range of partners. The Victoria Baths is a very beautiful old building, currently undergoing reconstruction to achieve perfect accessibility.
– Whitworth Gallery and Gardens – a beautifully renovated historic building transformed into a cultural center for contemporary art that is fully accessible to people with disabilities.
– Whitworth Art Gallery and gardens. The gallery is located in Whitworth Park and is part of the University of Manchester. In 2015, it underwent a significant redevelopment that addresses the surrounding parkland. The interior and exterior are fully handicap accessible with properly constructed walkways.
– Manchester’s Visitor Information Center – a modern accessible tourist information centre.
– Piccadilly Gardens and a city walk in the Northern Quarter to Manchester Cathedral – the shopping center of the city, accessible to visitors with disabilities and the elderly.
– The Central Library (Central Library) – ICT equipment for providing services with access for people with disabilities.
– The John Rylands Library – an amazing historic building accessible to people with various disabilities.
– Castlefield Urban Heritage Park (“Urban Heritage Park,” Castlefield) – modernly renovated accessible historic urban area.
– The People’s History Museum (People’s History Museum) – located in a building – a former hydraulic pumping station, rebuilt as a striking modern museum. With lifts /wheelchair accessible/ and various facilities on site to cater for specific visitor needs /such as audio tours for the hearing impaired/, this is one attraction that has put a lot of thought into accessibility.
– The Manchester Art Gallery, the Museum of Science and Industry – all with modern architectural solutions for access for disabled people and the elderly.
Regarding UK politics and Manchester City Council, the following can be shared:
The legal framework governing disability rights in the UK is governed by both domestic law, the Equality Act 2010, and international law, including the UN Convention on Human Rights with disabilities (UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities).
http://www.legislation.gov.uk./
The law provides for mandatory application of three requirements when a person with disabilities is placed in a significantly less favorable position compared to people without disabilities. The first requirement covers changing the way things are done (such as changing practice), the second covers making changes to the built environment (such as providing access to a building) and the third covers the provision of aids and services (such as providing special computer software or provision of a different service).
The facilities offered for visitors with special needs are constantly being improved. Newly designed or recently renovated buildings and public spaces providing elevators and ramps for wheelchair access are becoming more common practice. Buses are also becoming more accessible and, if given advance notice, train, ferry or bus staff are happy to assist any disabled passengers. If the travel agent is provided with a Disabled Persons Railcard, they will receive a discount on rail fares. Nowadays, many banks, theaters and museums provide aids for the visually or hearing impaired.
The website https://www.tourismforall.org.uk/ provides information about areas of the United Kingdom, accommodation and such providing food and drink, suggestions for things to do, including interesting offers, provides assistance in planning a visit, as well as news.
In the United Kingdom, there is a well-organized and well-functioning National Accessible Scheme (NAS), which assesses the accessibility of accommodation in Great Britain and awards a certificate. NSD-NAS covers three types of disabilities: mobility, hearing and vision. Assessed properties must have facilities such as handrails, ramps, hearing aids and color contrast, as examples listed.
The NSD-NAS scheme – content, members of the NSD-NAS scheme, incl. and their rating can be found at the following site:
https://www.visitengland.com
Manchester City Council ( https://www.manchester.gov.uk/ ) can be a leading example of well organized activities in the area of city governance and making it an accessible city.
There are four important planning documents worth knowing:
– Manchester Strategy – Our Manchester – The vision for Manchester 2025 is defined – to be at the forefront of world-class cities when the city will: Have a competitive, dynamic and sustainable economy; It has highly qualified, enterprising and hardworking people; Be connected, internationally and within the UK; It plays its full role in limiting the impact of climate change; Be a place where residents of all backgrounds feel safe, able to aspire, succeed and live well (here’s the accessibility aspect); It will be a clean, attractive, culturally rich, outwardly good-looking and welcoming city.
– Disabled People of All Ages Strategy – The document has been developed for everyone who lives, works, studies or visits Manchester. This is because it is everyone’s responsibility to ensure that in Manchester children, young people, older people and disabled people have a full role to play in society. They do this by exercising their rights and equal opportunities to access services and infrastructure, and by receiving the support they are entitled to. In the Strategy, the main view is that the social model of people with disabilities determines that it is not the condition or the disabilities that limit people, but the environmental and social conditions and the way society is organized create barriers; differences are not accommodated, and therefore difficulties and limitations are created for people. A definition of this strategy is that when these barriers are removed, we will have a “disability-friendly city”. Manchester must be the city where: The aspirations of disabled children and adults are recognized and can be realised; All areas of the city and all parts of city life are accessible; People with disabilities can be independent and equal in society and have choices and control over their lives; City dwellers are the city’s greatest asset; Everyone has the right to realize their own potential.
– The Manchester Accessibility Strategy – The aim of the Manchester Accessibility Strategy is to ensure accessibility of the curriculum, physical environment and information for pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). It is fundamental to the provision of services in Manchester and to support schools and educational institutions to develop their accessibility plans.
– Our Approach to Equality Program (AEP) – Manchester City Council has developed and implements the Our Equality Targets Program linked to the Equality Targets 2016-2020, available at:
https://www.manchester.gov.uk/info/200041/equality_and_diversity/5885/our_policy_approach
In the Programme, Manchester City Council is committed to improving disabled people’s access to all their services, including those related to the city’s built environment. The second edition of the Design for Access Handbook (Design for Access 2), which sets out ambitious standards that are embedded in all relevant areas of their practice
To achieve the goal of Manchester being an accessible city, the City Council works closely with the Manchester Disability Accessibility Group –
Manchester Disabled People’s Access Group (MDPAG) http://www.mdpag.org.uk/
Manchester Disability Accessibility Group is a disability organization and registered charity. It promotes best practice in design and access standards and works to improve access to buildings, transport, public spaces, events, information and services. They do this through participation as members and project activities, through access consultations, contributions to consultations, disability and organizational training, publications and campaigns.
The policy towards students studying at the University of Manchester makes a particular impression. It has established a Department of Disability Advisory and Support Service (DDASS)
http://www.dso.manchester.ac.uk/
Students with disabilities make up over 15% of all students at the University of Manchester, and the University provides accessibility and inclusion services. The Disability Advice and Support Department supports many different people, whether they are students, staff or supporters. The team strives to help everyone succeed – in their studies, work or the rest of their university life.
Conclusions / Lessons Learned /
The research trip to the city of Manchester, England can be defined as completely beneficial and valuable for every participant. State and local authority care in Great Britain for disabled people, older people and their families has developed to such a high level that it can be a leading model for every state, local and civic body. It is based on precise legislation, creative planning and design, and most importantly, it is realized in a broad partnership of the three sectors – public, civil and private.
Manchester City Council’s policy documents: Manchester Strategy – Our Manchester (MSOM), Disability All Ages Strategy (AADS), Manchester Accessibility Strategy (MAS) and the Our Approach to Equality program (linking the Goals of Equality 2016-2020) are perfectly developed documents. Furthermore, they are a proven toolkit for turning a city the size of Manchester, and even smaller cities, into places that are welcoming and enjoyable for people with disabilities and older people.
The model and know-how of the established civil partnership structure – Manchester Disability Accessibility Group (MDPAG), as an organization of people with disabilities, is an equal partner of the city’s public authorities to implement the defined accessibility and equality policy.
The knowledge gained about caring methods of providing services to people with disabilities from the City Council, the Information Center and especially the University of Manchester is unforgettable. The approaches and care of the academic authorities of the university can only be described as excellent and used as a model to follow.
Good examples were considered for the accessibility of city buildings – historical, religious, cultural and sports. All of them can be good examples for implementation and follow-up in Bulgaria and Greece.
Manchester Design for Access Manual
Manchester_Accessibility_Strategy_Youth
Manchester_All_Age_Disability_Strategy
Manchester_Strategy_Our_Manchester
UK_National_Accessible_Scheme
Presentation:
Del.-6.9.2-Inernational-study-visits-for-exchange-of-good-parctices-UK-BG
Del.-6.9.2-Inernational-study-visits-for-exchange-of-good-parctices-UK-EN