We’re open today 09:00 – 17:30

accessibility

We’re open today 09:00 – 17:30

accessibility

ACCESSIBILITY

Here at Charter Walk, we are fully accessible and cater for the needs of all of our disabled customers.

As all disabilities are not always visible, we constantly strive to make shopping experiences effortless and enjoyable for all.

SENSORY ROOM

The Charter Walk Sensory Room is a specially designed environment that provides a sensory experience to people, young or old, with a wide variety of different abilities.  Perfect for anybody with sensory challenges or in need of a safe and distracting place to return to a state of calm. Charter Walk are passionate about inclusion and changing lives.

SENSORY WALKWAY

The sensory walkway aims to create an inclusive, accessible and immersive environment for all shoppers and visitors at Charter Walk. Launched on Monday 27th March, the installation is multifaceted and multifunctional, which has transformed the existing Budding Burnley allotment into a sensory walkway which puts the local community at the heart of all the activities that the Centre will host. The installation of the sensory walkway at Charter Walk sees the Centre flourish with their efforts in being inclusive and diverse. We collaborated with Dr Jacqui Jackson who is an Autism and Design consultant. Jacqui has designed our sensory walkway, providing an external inclusive area. It is commonly understood that interacting with nature improves physical, sensory, emotional and social wellbeing and though shopping centres are mainly built up areas with little opportunity to do so, the introduction of soft planting, subtle lighting and inviting seating areas can provide a restorative place for shoppers and the wider community.

VIRTUAL TOUR

A virtual tour of Charter Walk has been created to assist those who wish to familarise themselves with the shopping centre before they visit. This will aid them to gain a better understanding of the layout as well as the facilities available on site and what to expect at the venue.  It offers video walk throughs of locations along with the real kind of noises that people can expect to hear which is of particular benefit to those with autism.
Click here for full screen

PURPLE FOOTPRINT PATHWAY

Charter Walk Shopping Centre has installed a Purple Footprint Pathway to lead visitors to the Customer Services Suite.

ACCESSIBILITY INITIATIVE

Charter Walk Shopping Centre has developed a number of permanent initiatives to make the centre fully accessible to shoppers with disabilities. All centre staff have received specialised training with three members of staff becoming dedicated ‘Autism Champions’ and the Centre has been certified ‘Autism Friendly’. Charter Walk is one of only twelve Shopping Centres nationally to achieve this accreditation.

QUIET HOUR

The centre operate ‘Quiet Hours’ everyday from 9-10am and 4-5pm where retailers lower or completely turn off their background music and staff don’t carry out any loud or obstructive tasks.

 

The quiet hours are supported by a number of designated quiet zones and staff members who carry backpack filled with sensory toys to help any shoppers who are feeling overwhelmed.

 

Everyday 9am -10am and 4-5pm

DEDICATED 'QUIET SPACES'

Did you know…that we have dedicated ‘quiet spaces’ for shoppers who struggle with autism and need a safe space? Ask a member of staff on site to find out where these quiet spaces are!

CHANGING PLACES FACILITIES

Our changing facilities are thoughtfully designed to accommodate everyone’s needs. With a lie-down bed suitable for adults, a practical hoist, non-slip flooring, and a centrally placed toilet with generous space on both sides, we’ve made sure everyone feels welcome and comfortable. They are located in the Customer Service Suite at 93 St James Street.

ACCESSIBLE PARKING

Charter Walk has also installed a ‘Purple Pathway’ in their car park which highlights the easiest and quickest route of entry into the Centre for shoppers with mobility issues. Please check our Parking page for more information on opening times and fares.

HIDDEN DISABILITIES

Not all disabilities are visible, some are not immediately obvious, such as autism, chronic pain, dementia, anxiety, visual or hearing impairment. Living with a hidden disability can make daily life more demanding for many people, but it can be difficult for others to recognise, acknowledge or understand the challenges people face.The Hidden Disabilities campaign is a subtle but visible sign that enables staff to recognise that the wearer (or someone with them) may require some extra help, time or assistance.Those wishing to wear a lanyard can collect them from the Customer Service Suite at 93 St James Street.

COMMUNICATION BOARD

Charter Walk are proud to be supporting Neurodiversity in Business and have installed a Communication Board at our centre. Communication boards help non-speaking people be part of the community.

HEARING LOOP

We are excited to announce a new addition to our services aimed at enhancing inclusivity for our customers. We have installed a Hearing Loop in our Customer Service Suite!

 

How does it work?

The PL1/K1 works firstly by picking up the sound using the inbuilt microphone, amplifying the sound, and then transmitting this using an electromagnetic signal to the users hearing aids. The hearing aid then converts this signal back into a sound suited to its users specific hearing requirements. This then enables the user to participate more fully in general conversation, ordering goods or services, etc. A hearing loop is accessible to any hearing aid with the T-Setting or “MT” switch available.



AUTISM FRIENDLY

We have an autism friendly visual guide with key information about autism awareness at Charter Walk which you can download here. Also we have handy cards for those with Autism and for those who care for them.
Reel Cinema Burnley offers Autism Friendly Screenings at varied times throughout the week. Relaxed screenings are screenings where the environment has been adapted to be more welcoming and accessible to people with additional needs. These could be people living with dementia, autism or other neurodiverse people. Adjustments will be made to the screening, such as altered lighting and sound volume. Usually, there are no trailers and customers are encouraged to get up and move around, speak, or make noise if they want to or need to. Check out when the next accessibility showings are at REEL Cinema Burnley’s: https://reelcinemas.co.uk/burnley/accessibility



SENSORY BACKPACKS

Here at Charter Walk, inclusivity and providing a supportive environment for all our shoppers are at the heart of what we do.   To give all of our visitors the best possible experience whilst visiting us, our very friendly and helpful staff are always available to assist you.   We have Sensory Backpacks available for those young shoppers who are feeling overwhelmed.These backpacks are filled to the brim with all kinds of wonderful things that cater to sensory needs. From calmings items to engaging activities, they’re thoughtfully curated to bring comfort and joy during your visit.If you or someone you know could benefit from using one of our sensory backpacks, simply ask a member of our friendly staff for more details. They’ll be more than happy to provide you with a backpack for your trip here at Charter Walk.A refundable deposit of £20 and a hire form will be required when taking one of our backpacks with you, and your deposit will be returned to you once the backpack has been returned.

ACCESSIBLE BRITAIN

What you need to know If you have any accessibility requirements, related services are free in Britain. Most major places of interest such as museums, theatres, galleries, stately homes, the countryside and coast – plus accommodation and travel hubs including train stations, airports and more – offer a host of support for all travellers.
Accessible facilities in Britain 
  • Assistance dogs are welcome. According to the UK Government’s Equality Act 2010, service providers, such as taxis and restaurants, must welcome people with assistance dogs and make reasonable adjustments for customers with assistance dogs
  • British Sign Language (BSL)
  • Menus and information in Braille
  • Quieter autism-friendly theatre performances and sensory rooms at busy locations
  • Accessible toilets and Changing Places toilets offering accessible facilities such as adult-sized hoists
  • RADAR Keys for independent access to over 10,000 accessible toilets across Great Britain (order online at Blue Badge Company, Age UK, Disability Rights UK and Argos)
  • Assistive listening systems (ALSs)
  • Audio descriptions
  • Accessible fitting rooms
  • Wheelchairs for beaches
  • Accessible swimming pool
  • Ramps for access on trains, places of interest and other locations
  • Accessible car parking spaces
  • Travel assistance at airports, train stations, attractions and much more

Want to know if a venue is accessible to you? 

For accessible-friendly restaurants, bars, transport, entertainment and other things to do, AccessAble has researched over 10,000 locations across the UK and Ireland and offers information on wheelchair and other accessibility-friendly features.

  • Euan’s Guide is another useful website that details information and reviews venue access across Britain and abroad. Euan MacDonald, MBE, co-founded the award-winning charity and website with his sister Kiki after he was diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease.
  • VisitEngland has an Accessible England guide with useful information on travel and things to do.
  • VisitWales features a range of accessible activities in Wales and accessible places to stay across the country.
  • VisitScotland also has a comprehensive range of accessible experiences in Scotland, places to stay and accessible places to eat.
    For accessible activities in Northern Ireland see Visit Northern Ireland’s Things To Do section and search using keywords such as ’access’.
    For fun-filled accessible itineraries from Brighton to Scotland, watch comedian Rosie Jones’ Mission Accessible.
Accessible airports in Britain 

When it comes to air travel, UK airports offer assisted access assistance so you can navigate your way around from the moment you land. Access from major international hubs to inner cities is easy and accessible. Ideally, you should inform your airline with around 48 hours notice before your travel time, though this may vary depending on your airline so always make sure you check. Individual websites for major airports have detailed information on assistance and accessibility, including quiet areas, walking distances and more.

Accessible airports in England 

In England, the Heathrow Express takes only 15 minutes to central London and allows all customers to travel unaided if they wish. It has ‘Turn up and Go’ step-free access and a booked assistance service. The Gatwick Express is also committed to comfortable, accessible travel for everyone, with a dedicated Passenger Assist travel scheme. You can contact the team for help planning your journey at any time. The Gatwick Express will get you from the airport and into the heart of the capital city action within 30 minutes.
The largest international airport in the North East of England is Newcastle Airport which has a Passenger Assistance program for help navigating your journey if needed. The North West is served by Manchester Airport and Liverpool John Lennon Airport, both of which are international hubs and also offer assisted travel.
Birmingham Airport in the West Midlands is a major international hub connecting to more than 30 countries, while East Midlands Airport also welcomes visitors from 23 countries.

Accessible rail travel in Britain 
Not only is travelling by rail a quick and sustainable way to navigate Britain, it’s also accessible and major railway stations are well served by accessible taxis. Major cities in England and Wales are well connected by train, most within three hours’ travel time from London. It’s also possible to reach Edinburgh and Glasgow in Scotland in under five hours.


All licensed train companies must be able to tell you what services and facilities are available and how to get assistance, including when there are any disruptions. It’s called the Accessible Travel Policy by the Government Office for Rail and Road.


For planning your rail journey check out Passenger Assistance. Created in partnership with National Rail, you can plug in your trip via the website booking platform or on the app. Then, staff at each of the stations have all the details they need to help your trip run as smoothly as possible. National Rail and Passenger Assist has detailed access information of each train station and further advice on travelling with wheelchairs, mobility scooters, assistance dogs and more.

Train discounts and more 

If your trip involves a lot of rail travel, a rail card can offer a range of discounts to make your journey more economical. The BritRail Pass is exclusively for tourists and offers unlimited journeys and various discounts, giving you the freedom to travel around at your own pace. There are other discounts available to wheelchair users, Blind or partially sighted travellers (including their travel companion), who do not have a rail card.


Network Rail has a handy autism-friendly travel guide, and to keep track of your journey with live travel updates (changes, cancellations, and quieter travel times, etc.) visit The Trainline.  

Accessible travel by car in Britain 

For added flexibility on your journey, renting your own car opens up spectacular routes cut through mountains, hills and countryside. For wheelchair-accessible vehicle hire anywhere across the UK, including airports, try Wav Compare. There’s also Adaptive Vehicle Hire, Allied Mobility, MotaClarity and others. 

Accessible parking permits 

UK residents are entitled to a Blue Badge disabled parking permit for use in designated parking bays. According to the British Government, the UK has informally agreed to continue to recognise badges issued by members of the EU and EEA. For anyone visiting outside of the EU/EEA, bring your parking badge or parking card, however, the Government’s advice is that you check with the local police or authority to see if it can be used prior to parking and leaving your vehicle. 

Accessible coach travel in Britain 

Whether travelling from the airport on arrival to the UK, or navigating from one side of the country to the other, travelling by coach is cost affective and convenient. National Express covers over 60 destinations in Great Britain and has a dedicated Assisted Travel Team to help plan your trip or offer advice. There is a Facilities Directory for coach stations, coaches fitted with lifts, assistance dogs are welcome and it follows the Sunflower Lanyard Scheme.


You can also book luxury coach package holiday’s across Britain, like these options from Limitless Travel. Bookings include accessible accommodation, accessible coaches with a hydraulic lift or ramp, accessible activities and more.

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09.00 – 17.30
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01282 425368
info@charterwalk.com
93 St. James’ Street
Burnley
BB11 1PY
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