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Barking Learning Centre Community and Family Hub

2 Town Square, Barking, IG11 7NB

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Access Guide

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Overview

  • About View
    • This is a community support hub with multiple services available including public computer access and basic IT classes, freephone telephones to council services, food clubs, a children's nursery, gallery space, and room hire.
    • There is also a range of activities for all ages.
    • Services available in the venue include: Barking Library, Citizens Advice Bureau, Council One Stop Shop, Homes and Money Hub, B&D Works (previously JobShops), the Adult College of Barking and Dagenham, the Inclusive Digital Zone, the Family Library, and the Stop Smoking Team.
    • View information on opening times.
  • Parking and Public Transport View
  • Getting In and Around View
    • There is step-free level access at the most accessible entrance.
    • There is an alternative step-free access with a slight sloped gradient to the right of the most accessible entrance.
    • The single automatic door is push pad operated with an opening width of 98cm.
    • There is step-free level access throughout, this may include the use of a lift.
    • Access throughout may include manual doors and doors permanently held open.
    • The first floor can be accessed via a standard lift and stairs.
  • Getting Help and Assistance View
    • There is seating available.
    • There is a portable hearing assistance system on request.
    • British Sign Language Interpreters can be requested prior to your visit.
    • Documents are available in the following formats: Braille (on request), large print (on request), different languages (on request) and audio (on request).
    • There is not a water bowl available for assistance dogs.
    • There is not a designated assistance dog spending area.
    • Additional facilities/services include: Wi-Fi.
    • Staff receive the following training: mandatory EDI onboarding training.
  • Related Access Guides View

Toilet and Changing Facilities

  • Toilet Facilities View
    • There are 2 toilets with adaptations.
    • Toilets with adaptations are located on the ground and the first floors.
    • The transfer space varies between left and right in the toilets with adaptations.
    • The male and female step-free standard toilet facilities are located on the ground and the first floors.
  • Changing Places and Changing Facilities View
    • Parent and baby changing facilities are located within the toilet with adaptations on the ground floor.

Parking

  • Drop-off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop-off point available.
  • On-street Parking View
    • On-street designated Blue Badge parking and standard parking is available.
    • The on-street designated Blue Badge parking bays are located in Bobby Moore Way.
    • The Blue Badge bays are clearly marked and signposted.
  • Public Car Parks View
    • There is a public car park located outside Abbey Leisure Centre.
    • The name of the car park is Bobby Moore Way.
    • Designated Blue Badge parking bays are available in the car park.

Entrance (Accessible)

  • This entrance is located off the pedestrianised area, to the right of the building.
  • The accessible entrance is to the left the 2 adjacent sets of doors into the building.
  • The entrance area is clearly signed.
  • There is a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at the entrance.
  • There is step-free level access at the entrance.
  • There is a single automatic door at this entrance.
  • The door opens by sliding.
  • The width of the opening is 78cm.
  • There is a small lip on the threshold of the opening.
  • The door has a low visual contrast.
  • There is a second single automatic door.
  • The second door opens by sliding.
  • There is a small lip on the threshold of the opening.
  • The second door has a low visual contrast.

Reception

  • The reception is located straight ahead from the accessible entrance.
  • The distance from the accessible entrance is 20m.
  • There is step-free level access to reception.
  • The height of the reception desk is 120cm.
  • There is not a lowered section at the desk.
  • There is a portable hearing assistance system on request.
  • The hearing assistance system was tested and working at the time of the survey.
  • The height of the touchscreen display ranges from 82cm to 177cm from the floor.
  • There may be background noise in this area.
  • The flooring is shiny.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.
  • There is room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre in the seating area (150cm x 150cm).
  • There is space for an assistance dog to rest in the seating area.
  • Seating available in this area includes: armchairs.
  • Furniture available in this area includes: coffee tables.
  • There is also a reception counter on the ground floor for the Family Library.
  • The height of the reception desk is 101cm, with a lowered section 74cm above the floor.
  • The height of the touchscreen display ranges from 116cm to 130cm from the floor
  • There is a further reception on the ground floor for the Barking Job Shop.
  • The height of the reception desk is 112cm, with a lowered section 72cm above the floor.

Getting Around

  • There is step-free level access throughout all areas, this may include the use of a lift.
  • Access throughout may include manual doors, doors permanently held open and automatic doors.
  • Some flooring is shiny.
  • There is a high visual contrast between the walls and floor in all walkways.
  • Some of the walls have a reflective finish.
  • There is background noise in some areas of the venue.
  • Wayfinding signage is provided.
  • Signage is clearly visible with high contrasting colours.
  • The colour, design and typeface of signs is consistent throughout.
  • Seating available in the walkways includes: chairs with armrests, chairs without armrests and benches.
  • Lighting levels vary due to the size of the space.
  • There is a single automatic door at the entrance to the Barking Job Shop on the ground floor.
  • The door opens by sliding.
  • The width of the opening is 104cm.
  • There is a small lip on the threshold of the opening.
  • The door has a low visual contrast.
  • There is a multi-faith prayer room on the first floor.
  • The single width door opens towards you.
  • The width of the opening is 80cm.

Lift

  • The lift surveyed is located ahead from the accessible entrance, on the right.
  • The distance from the accessible entrance is 21m.
  • The most accessible route to the lift has step-free level access.
  • The ground and first floors are accessed by this lift.
  • The lift door has a high visual contrast.
  • The lift has a level manoeuvring space in front of it for a wheelchair user (150cm x 150cm).
  • The external lift control buttons have a low visual contrast.
  • All of the external lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
  • The lift door opening width is 107cm.
  • The internal dimensions of the lift are 156cm (width) x 139cm (depth).
  • The internal lift control buttons have tactile markings and a high visual contrast.
  • All of the internal lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
  • Internally the lift has: a mirror to aid reversing, a visual floor indicator and an audible announcer.
  • Lighting levels were low at the time of the survey.

Stairs

  • The stairs surveyed are located on the left after the accessible entrance.
  • The ground and first floors can be accessed by these stairs.
  • There are 20+ steps between floors.
  • The steps are clearly marked and have handrails on both sides.
  • The handrails are easy to grip.
  • The handrails cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
  • The handrails do not extend horizontally beyond the first and last step.
  • The height of the steps is between 15cm and 18cm.
  • The height of the highest step is 17cm.
  • The depth of the steps is not between 30cm and 45cm.
  • Lighting levels vary due to the size of the space.

Toilet with Adaptations (Ground Floor - Right Hand Transfer)

  • Location and Access View
    • The toilet surveyed is located on the right after the accessible entrance, then left along a short corridor.
    • The distance from the accessible entrance is 15m.
    • The most accessible route to the toilet has step-free level access.
    • There is step-free level access into the facility.
    • There is pictorial signage on or near the door.
    • The door opens outwards and has a high visual contrast.
    • The width of the door opening is 86cm.
    • The door has a locking handle (with a RADAR key to access).
    • Internally the door has a high visual contrast.
    • There is a grab rail on the internal door with a high visual contrast.
  • Dimensions and Features View
    • The dimensions of the cubicle are 146cm (width) x 204cm (depth) and there is not room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm).
    • There is a lateral transfer space to the right as you face the toilet, however it is obstructed.
    • The lateral transfer space is 79cm (from the side of the toilet pan).
    • There is a spatula flush on the transfer side.
    • There is a horizontal grab rail on the non-transfer side.
    • The horizontal grab rail has a high visual contrast.
    • There is no vertical grab rail for the toilet.
    • There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
    • The dropdown rail has a high visual contrast.
    • The toilet seat is 48cm from the floor.
    • The toilet seat has a low visual contrast.
    • There is a wall mounted toilet roll holder which can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The toilet roll holder has a low visual contrast.
    • The toilet roll holder is 83cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin and taps can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is 78cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin has a lever mixer tap.
    • The vertical grab rails are on both sides of the wash basin.
    • The wash basin grab rails have a high visual contrast.
    • There is a wall mounted soap dispenser which can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The soap dispenser has a high visual contrast.
    • The soap dispenser is 86cm from the floor.
    • There is not a towel dispenser.
    • There is a wall mounted hand dryer.
    • The hand dryer has a high visual contrast.
    • The hand dryer is 120cm from the floor.
    • There is a pull cord emergency alarm but it was tied up at the time of the survey.
    • There is a mirror.
    • There is no shelf.
    • The cubicle has a waste bin and a nappy/incontinence items bin.
    • There is one coat hook.
    • The coat hook is 143cm from the floor.
    • The height of the baby change facility when in use is 88cm.
    • The walls and floor have a medium visual contrast.
    • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.
    • There is a similar facility on the first floor with a lateral transfer space to the left as you face the toilet, which is not obstructed.
    • The toilet seat has a high visual contrast.
    • There is no mirror.
    • The coat hook is 143cm from the floor.
    • There is not a baby change facility.