Access statement: Scotland Workplace Conference 2023 | Scotland
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Access statement: Scotland Workplace Conference 2023
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Access statement: Scotland Workplace Conference 2023

At Stonewall, we believe that all attendees should be able to fully participate in our events and feel comfortable doing so. 

We are taking measures and efforts to ensure that we organise events that are accessible to all. We commit to ensuring that as far as possible we work with you to accommodate any adjustments that you require. We will take feedback on access issues seriously and work to ensure that we improve and develop after every event.

Please find the Stonewall Scotland Workplace Conference Access Statement below. If you would like a more detailed version or have any questions, please email us at workplace@stonewallscotland.org.uk and we will get back to you.

Venue

Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC), The Exchange, 150 Morrison St, Edinburgh EH3 8EE

Tel: 0131 300 3000

To find out more about the venue, and to download floorplans, please visit the EICC website.

The venue is fully accessible. Full information on disability access for the venue can be found on the EICC website. There is free Wi-Fi available for all delegates. For anyone who needs an evacuation plan, please contact workplace@stonewallscotland.org.uk to agree a mutually convenient personal evacuation plan.

Parking

Dedicated accessible parking spaces are available in the following facilities:

  • Sheraton Hotel Car Park located 150 meters from the EICC, with limited accessible parking spaces
  • Semple Street Car Park located 300 meters from the EICC
  • Castle Terrace NCP Car Park located 650 meters from the EICC

In addition, there is on street parking on Morrison Street near the EICC's main entrance and in surrounding streets, such as Gardner's Crescent, which is free and without time limit for Blue Badge holders. Blue Badge parking is free of charge.

If you do not have a blue badge you will have to pay for parking – the closest parking is a 2-minute walk from the venue. Should this make it hard for you to access the venue, please contact us. The distance between Blue Badge parking and the entrance is between 5m to 10m. Please let us know in advance if you will be using this so that we can ensure enough spaces will be available.

The forecourt (path from accessible parking spots to venue entrance) is cobbled. The pavement is lowered and there is a stair lift which is wheelchair accessible to the left of the main entrance.

Reaching the venue by public transport

By Train

Edinburgh Haymarket Station is the closest train station to the venue. The venue is approximately a 10-minute walk away from Haymarket Station. Haymarket Station has step-free access.

Waverley Station is Edinburgh’s main railway station. Waverley is 1.3 miles from the EICC, a 20-25 minute walk.

By Tram

Edinburgh Trams run between the Airport and the city center every 8-10 minutes from Monday to Saturday.  The closest tram stop to the EICC is at Haymarket Station.

By Bus

The EICC is served by several bus routes on Morrison Street, Lothian Road, and Shandwick Place. For information on local bus services throughout Edinburgh visit www.lothianbuses.com.

Reception/Registration Area

The registration area is on the ground floor as you enter the venue from the Strathblane Hall Entrance. Once registered, you will be directed to the reception area on the ground floor.

The event will utilise rooms across two floors of the venue. All floors have lift access, and an escalator.

Corridors and Access Routes

All corridors/access routes in the venue are fully wheelchair accessible. 

The floors of the corridors/access routes are made of non-slip surfaces of carpet/wooden floor.

Room Layouts

The main room for opening and closing sessions:

  • The rooms have level access.
  • The doors are double doors, they are not automatic. There will be ushers by the doors to help you.

The networking and catering areas:

  • They have a combined capacity of 200 people.
  • The rooms have level access.
  • The rooms have high ceilings.

The breakout rooms:

  • Workshop rooms will have capacities of between 40 to 200 people.
  • The workshop rooms are split across the ground floor and level one of the EICC. Rooms on level one can be access via a lift or an escalator. There will be ushers to support you in finding your workshop room.

For more information on accessibility at this venue, please click here or speak to us at workplace@stonewallscotland.org.uk.  

Facilities 

All facilities will be clearly labelled on the day. Ushers will also be able to direct you.

The event will have a Wellbeing Room:

  • This will be available from 9.30 – 16.30.
  • There will be seating available.
  • There will be materials inside the quiet room such as mental distractions, calming activities and useful information leaflets. 

Changing Facilities

  • Changing room facilities will be available throughout the day in the venue toilets.

Toilets

  • Gender neutral toilets will be available.
  • Accessible toilets, equipped with emergency alarms, will be available. 

Accessibility Services

Adjustments are available upon request (if there is anything not on this list that you might require, please do not hesitate to get in contact and we can see what we can do for you). 

  • Large print
  • Coloured paper
  • Induction loops 
  • BSL Interpreter 
  • Palantypist 
  • Braille
  • Free ticket for support worker
  • Refrigerated storage
  • Reserved seating
  • Varied seating options

At Registration we will provide the following additional services:

  • Personal reserved signs will be available to collect at registration, on request.
  • Pronoun stickers will be available.
  • There will be an Early Bird registration (on request) for those who find the registration process inaccessible. More information about this will be provided at a later date.
  • There will be ushers available during the main registration to support delegates.
  • In the Networking Area colour-coded lanyards will be provided allowing delegates to indicate their levels of communication preferences.

Catering

Catering will be clearly labelled. Please do let us know of any dietary requirements or food/drink allergies you have in advance. Upon request, vegetarian, vegan, Halal, Kosher, nut free and gluten-free food will be available. We will ensure that catering requests are accommodated, so please provide us with as much information as possible when registering to attend conference.

Assistance/Guide Dogs

Assistance/Guide dogs are welcome at the venue. Please provide a water bowl. A toilet area is not available at the venue.

Staff support

Stonewall staff will be wearing brightly coloured laynards so they can be identified easily.

An Accessibility Coordinator will be available for the day via phone and email to accommodate any access issues you might have. They will be stationed at registration but will be able to move around the venue on the day. Further information about this individual will be communicated to you nearer the day of conference. 

Security

To ensure the safety of all delegates, everyone must bring a form of ID and a copy of their joining instructions with them in order to access the event. We accept a variety of forms of ID including government issued photo ID, bank cards or a pass from your organisation. Random bag checks may also be in operation at the entrance of the venue. If you have any concerns about the above, or if there is anything we can do to make the security check process easier for you, please get in touch.

COVID-19 Safety

We know that COVID-19 has hit our community disproportionately and that we all experience different levels of risk relating to our personal circumstances. As a community it’s important that we do all that we can to ensure everyone feels as safe as they can during this event.

These are the steps we are taking to minimize risk relating to COVID during this event:

  • Ventilation: the venue is equipped with a ventilation system to keep fresh air circulated.
  • Tables will be sanitized each time delegates move between rooms.
  • Hand sanitiser will be available throughout venue.

We are sharing the following recommended actions with delegates and staff:

  • Please take a Lateral Flow Test on Wednesday 20 September before attending the event
  • If you are travelling to the venue using public transport, please wear a face covering during your journey 
  • Please maintain social distancing of at least 1m while moving through the venue.
  • Please use your own personal equipment, or that provided to you – and try not to share equipment with other delegates. 
  • Unless exempt, we encourage mask wearing as often as comfortable, but particularly when moving throughout the venue. 
  • Regularly wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds. Use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available.
  • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands. If you do not have a tissue, cough, or sneeze into the crook of your elbow, rather than your hands.
  • If you have a positive Lateral Flow or PCR test, or any COVID symptoms please do not attend this programme. Get in touch with the team via workplace@stonewallscotland.org.uk and we will transfer your ticket to a future event. 

Further information

If you can't find what you need here, or you prefer information in a different format, please email workplace@stonewallscotland.org.uk and we will do our best to answer.

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