Study visit to England under the project “PATHWAYS FOR ACCESSIBLE HERITAGE TOURISM”
22 Μαρτίου 2019
The study trip to Manchester, UK was completed within 3 (three) active working days March 20-22, 2019. It was attended by representatives of the hereditary partner organizations under the project “PATHWAYS FOR ACCESSIBLE HERITAGE TOURISM”:
- Rhodope National Park Greece;
- Local Agency for Economic Development – Razlog;
- Union of the Disabled in Bulgaria;
- Association “Ecosvyat Rodopi” – 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 of Greece-Bulgaria and to establish it as an international destination for accessible tourism, including people with disabilities and chronic diseases, adults people and their families. In particular, the Project seeks to create conditions for the exchange and introduction of know-how and good practices related to improving the accessibility of cultural and natural structures, which will lead to improved accessibility and attendance of assets / sites of cultural and natural heritage in the cross-border region. The activity “Study 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 about affordable tourism and tourism for older people in leading European countries. Subsequently, by implementing information (public events) and capacity building (training) activities, the partners will be able to contribute at the local level to increase the capacity of the authorities responsible for the management of assets in the field of cultural and natural heritage, as well as and tourism professionals to meet the needs of adult tourism and affordable tourism at a higher quality level. know-how and knowledge of affordable tourism and tourism for the elderly in leading European countries. Subsequently, by implementing information (public events) and capacity building (training) activities, the partners will be able to contribute at the local level to increase the capacity of the authorities responsible for the management of assets in the field of cultural and natural heritage, as well as and tourism professionals to meet the needs of adult tourism and affordable tourism at a higher quality level. know-how and knowledge of affordable tourism and tourism for the elderly in leading European countries. Subsequently, through the implementation of information activities (public events) and capacity building (trainings), the partners will be able to contribute at the local level to increase the capacity of the authorities responsible for the management of assets in the field of cultural and natural heritage, as well as and tourism professionals to meet the needs of adult tourism and affordable tourism at a higher quality level.
The study trip to Manchester, England, Great Britain aims to get acquainted with the policy for people with disabilities and accessible tourism in Great Britain; with Manchester as the second tourist center in the UK and its accessibility policy and its accessible tourist sites; as well as affordable education at the University of Manchester.
Tasks – Getting acquainted with good examples and transfer of know-how in the field of accessible cultural and historical tourism, policies for people with disabilities and the urban environment for accessibility, as well as accessible university education. The activity contributes significantly to the implementation of the main goal of the project.
Participants viewed access for adults and people with disabilities to Whitworth’s gallery and gardens. Visited:
– University of Manchester – one of the largest universities in the UK, providing special care for people with disabilities. In the Department of Counseling and Assistance for People with Disabilities / Student Experience Directorate and were received by Disability Counselor Alison Hassett. Alison made an interesting and very valuable presentation about the accessibility services and support provided by the university for students with disabilities;
– The Visitor Information Center in Piccadilly Circus, where they got acquainted with the accessible tourist sites of the city of Manchester, as well as with the accessible cultural sites and events.
– Manchester City Hall / City Council – premises for the provision of services to citizens, including the elderly and disabled. With the exception of the clock tower, the rest of the building is easily wheelchair accessible through the available lifts.
– At the meeting with Ms. Jill Wright – Project Development Manager and member of the Disabled Accessibility Group in Manchester at her workplace, Baths of Victoria, she shared in a friendly and useful discussion the approach and methodology of the Manchester City authorities for ensuring accessibility of the city – based on excellent planning and conducted in cooperation with a wide range of partners. Victoria Baths is a very beautiful old building, currently undergoing renovations to achieve perfect accessibility.
– Whitworth Gallery and Gardens – a beautifully renovated historic building, turned into a cultural center for contemporary art, which is fully accessible for 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, a significant reconstruction was made, which turns to the surrounding park. The interior and exterior are fully accessible for people with disabilities with properly constructed paths.
– Manchester Visitor Information Center – a modern accessible tourist information center.
– Piccadilly Gardens and a walk in the city in the Northern Quarter to Manchester Cathedral – the city’s shopping center, accessible to visitors with disabilities and the elderly.
– 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 disabilities.
– Castlefield Urban Heritage Park (Castlefield) – a modern renovated accessible historic urban area.
– The People’s History Museum – located in a building – a former hydraulic pumping station, rebuilt as a striking modern museum. With elevators (wheelchair accessible) and various on-site facilities to serve the specific needs of visitors (such as audio tours for the hearing impaired), this is an attraction that has given much thought to accessibility.
– The Manchester Art Gallery, the Museum of Science and Industry – all with modern architectural solutions for the access of people with disabilities and the elderly.
Regarding the policy of Great Britain and the city government of Manchester, the following can be shared:
The legal framework governing the rights of people with disabilities in the UK is governed by both domestic law, the Equality Act 2010 and international law, as well as 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 the mandatory application of three requirements when a person with a disability is placed in a significantly more disadvantaged position than people without disabilities. The first requirement covers a change in the way things are done (such as a change in practice), the second covers changes in 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 the provision of a different service).
The facilities offered to visitors with special needs are constantly being improved. Recently designed or recently renovated buildings and public spaces providing elevators and wheelchair ramps are becoming an increasingly common practice. Buses are also becoming more accessible and, if notified in advance, train, ferry or bus staff are happy to help all disabled passengers. If the travel agent is provided with a Disabled Persons Railcard , they will receive a discount on train fares. Nowadays, many banks, theaters and museums provide aids for the visually or hearing impaired.
The website https://www.tourismforall.org.uk/ provides information on the regions of the United Kingdom, accommodation and food and beverage providers, suggestions for things to do, including interesting offers, provides assistance in planning the visit, as well as news.
In the United Kingdom, there is a well-organized and well-functioning National Accessible Scheme (NSD-NAS), which assesses the accessibility of accommodation in the UK and awards a certificate. NSD-NAS covers three types of impairments: mobility, hearing and vision. Appraised properties must have facilities such as hand rails, ramps, hearing aids and color contrast, for example listed.
NSD-NAS scheme – content, members of the NSD-NAS scheme, incl. and their evaluation can be found on the following site:
The Manchester City Council ( https://www.manchester.gov.uk/ ) can be a leading example of well-organized activities in the management of a city, as well as its transformation into an accessible city.
There are four important planning documents that are worth knowing:
– Manchester Strategy – Our Manchester – The vision for Manchester until 2025 is defined – to be in the forefront among world-class cities, when the city will: Have a competitive, dynamic and sustainable economy; Has highly qualified, enterprising and hardworking people; Be connected, internationally and within the United Kingdom; Plays its full role in mitigating the effects of climate change; It will be a place where residents of all backgrounds feel safe, able to strive, succeed and live well (this is the aspect of accessibility); Be a clean, attractive, culturally rich, good-looking and friendly city.
– Strategy for all ages of people with disabilities – The document is designed 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, the elderly and the elderly have a full role in society. They do so by exercising their rights and equal opportunities to access services and infrastructure, and receive the support to which they are entitled. The main view of the Strategy is that the social model of people with disabilities determines that it is not the condition or disabilities that limit people, but the ecological and social conditions and the way of organizing society create barriers; differences do not adapt and therefore create difficulties and limitations for people. The definition of this strategy is that when these barriers are removed, we will have a “city, convenient for people with disabilities’. Manchester should be a city where: The aspirations of children and adults with disabilities are recognized and can be realized; 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 choice and control over their lives; Residents of the city are the greatest wealth of the city; Everyone has the right to realize their own potential.
– The Manchester Accessibility Strategy – The aim of the Manchester Accessibility Strategy is to ensure the accessibility of the curriculum, the physical environment and information for students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). services in Manchester and to support schools and schools in developing their accessibility plans.
– Our Approach to Equality Program (PNPR) – The Manchester City Council has developed and implemented the Our Equality Goals Program, related to the Equality Goals 2016-2020, available on the website:
https://www.manchester.gov.uk/info/200041/equality_and_diversity/5885/our_policy_approach
In the Program, the Manchester City Council is committed to improving the access of people with disabilities to all their services, including those related to the urban environment. The second edition of the Design for Access 2 Handbook, which sets out ambitious standards that are embedded in all relevant areas of their practice
To achieve the goal of making Manchester an accessible city, the City Administration is working closely with the Manchester Group on Accessibility for People with Disabilities –
Manchester Disabled People’s Access Group (MDPAG) http://www.mdpag.org.uk/
The Accessibility Group for People with Disabilities in Manchester is a disability organization and a registered charity. It promotes best practices 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, contributing to consultations, training for people with disabilities and organizations, publications and campaigns.
Particularly impressive is the policy towards students at the University of Manchester. It was established Department of counseling and assistance for people with disabilities / 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 Department of Counseling and Assistance for People with Disabilities 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 study trip to the city of Manchester, England, can be defined as entirely useful and valuable for each participant. The care of the state and local authorities in the UK for people with disabilities, the elderly and their families has been developed at such a high level that it can be a leading model for every country, local and civic structure. It is based on precise legislation, creative planning and design, and most importantly, it is implemented in broad partnership of the three sectors – public, civil and private.
Manchester City Programming Documents: The Manchester Strategy – Our Manchester (MSOM), the Strategy for All Ages with Disabilities (AADS), the Manchester Accessibility Strategy (MAS), and the Our Approach to Equality Program (linking the Goals) of equality 2016-2020) are perfectly developed documents. In addition, they are a proven tool for transforming a city the size of Manchester and even smaller cities into places that are cozy and pleasant for people with disabilities and the elderly.
The model and know-how of the established structure for civil partnership – the Manchester Group for Accessibility of People with Disabilities (MDPAG), as an organization of people with disabilities, is an equal partner of the public authorities of the city for the implementation of the accessibility and equality policy.
Unforgettable is the knowledge gained about the care methods for providing services to people with disabilities from the City Administration, the Information Center and especially from the University of Manchester. The approaches and concerns of the university’s academic authorities can only be defined 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 study in Bulgaria and Greece.
Manchester Design for Access Manual
Manchester_Accessibility_Strategy_Youth
Manchester_All_Age_Disability_Strategy