Access policy | National Football Museum

This policy describes the approach to be taken in maximising access for everyone, regardless
of ability, age, gender, cultural or social background, sexual orientation, faith, language,
parental status, location or wealth, by minimising or removing barriers that can prevent
people from engaging with the National Football Museum and its collection.

1. Introduction

The National Football Museum is committed to maximising access for everyone, regardless of ability, age, gender, cultural or social background, sexual orientation, faith, language, parental status, location or wealth, by minimising or removing barriers that can prevent people from engaging with the Museum and its collection.

We do everything that we can, within the limitations of our facilities and other resources, to offer the widest, richest, most engaging access for all our users.

We recognise that access is a complex issue that must be addressed through the actions of the organisation and that access provision benefits people generally, not just those with specific needs.

The principles described in this document relate to the museum in Manchester open to the general public, pre-arranged academic access to the collection storage facility in Preston and virtual access through various on-line platforms.

We will regularly seek specialist advice to enhance our accessibility for visitors to both Museum locations.

This policy should be read in conjunction with the Museum’s policy on Equality and Diversity. The Equality Act (2010) protects people against discrimination, harassment or victimisation in employment, and as users of private and public services based on nine protected characteristics: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation. A section of the Act prohibits unfair treatment when providing goods, facilities and services, when holding public functions, in the management of premises, and in education.

We publish regularly updated access information in a variety of formats.

2. Definition Access terms

There are a number of key potential barriers to access:

Physical/sensory – people with physical disabilities, limited mobility, or hearing or visual impairments may not be able to access the Museum, our website, social media channels or programmes.

Intellectual – some people may find the Museum too specialist in its approach to subjects and how they are presented; some may have learning disabilities which affect their ability to engage with the Museum; and some may not be able to read or speak English.

Attitudinal – some people may have a lack of interest in, or awareness of, the Museum and the subjects and issues it deals with, or our programmes and services.

Cultural – some people may feel that the Museum is not relevant to them and does not reflect their cultural or social heritage, or their interests.

Economic – some people may not be able to afford to visit the Museum or take part in our programmes.

Geographic – some people will live too far away to visit the Museum.

3. Responsibilities

Board Members have overall responsibility for this policy ensuring that the Museum meets its obligations under the Equality Act (2010) by doing everything reasonably possible to make the museum accessible to the widest range of people.

The Chief Executive Officer and Senior Leadership Team are accountable for providing leadership in the implementation of this policy and for ensuring that business plans incorporate specific equality objectives.

Heads of department must ensure that the work of their colleagues takes into account the need to maximise access by addressing the barriers outlined above.

Every member of staff involved in developing, delivering or maintaining spaces, activities, resources and other services for our users must make them as accessible as possible.

The Museum will arrange training for staff as required to ensure all visitors are warmly welcomed and offered help to enjoy their visit.

4. Access

The museum will uphold the statutory requirements of the Equality Act (2010) by taking all reasonable steps to ensure that policies, practices and procedures do not discriminate against people; by providing auxiliary aids and services which enable people to use the museum; and by removing, altering or circumventing physical barriers within the facilities.

This is summarised in the following sections:

4.1 Physical access

Ensure that lift access is provided to all public spaces.

Ensure that all our galleries, exhibitions (including individual exhibits), learning spaces, café, shop, toilets and information desks are accessible to wheelchair users.

Provide a suitable number of wheelchairs for visitors to use on site.

Providing plenty of accessible seating throughout the Museum.

Although the museum has no parking facilities due to its city centre location, disabled parking bays are available nearby at Victoria Railway Station with level or ramped access to the Museum.

Ensure that visitors who wish to breastfeed an infant in the Museum are welcomed and offered a quieter area if they request it. Baby changing facilities are available.

4.2. Sensory access

Employ and train front-of-house staff who have the awareness and skills to successfully communicate with and provide a quality service to people with visual or hearing impairments.

Following best practice guidelines on interaction with visitors with hearing loss.

Ensure that exhibitions and galleries use a good range of multisensory exhibits (e.g. touch, smell, listen) and tactile images where appropriate.

Ensure that video-based exhibits have subtitles if they use the spoken word.

Budget allowing, include British Sign Language (BSL) as well as subtitles in key audio- visual exhibits that are central to a gallery or exhibition’s main message.

Offer specific object handling tours / trails, BSL and other events that are specifically designed for people with sensory impairments.

Develop audio guides for visually impaired visitors where appropriate.

Ensure admissions and retail areas have suitable Hearing loop facilities.

Ensure assistance dogs are welcomed into the Museum.

Produce warning signage for any installation that could affect visitors with photosensitive epilepsy.

Ensure that our website meets the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) AA standard

4.3 Intellectual access

Ensure that the text used in our galleries, exhibitions, educational resources, publications, website and social media channels is carefully tailored to the needs of their intended audiences, in line with the museum’s style guide.

Provide effective wayfinding signage and museum maps.

Ensure that the content and delivery of our learning programmes are tailored to the learning needs of their audiences.

Facilitate early opening visitor sessions for children with an Autism Spectrum Condition. Museum familiarisation guide printed and on the website for visitors with autism.

Develop museum maps and guides in key priority languages.

Ensure that information on our website is available in key tourist and community languages.

Facilitate activities such as Sporting Memories for those living with dementia.

4.4 Attitudinal access

Ensure that our promotional activities present the museum as a welcoming, non threatening, inclusive destination.

Ensure that visitors are made to feel welcome on arrival and are put at their ease.

Create environments in which people can feel comfortable, valued and able to engage at their own pace and level.

4.5 Cultural access

Make the museum and its programmes as relevant as possible to our culturally and socially diverse society.

The Museum aspires to reflect the diverse nature of the community within the organisations workforce, volunteers and trustees (see Equality and Diversity policy for more details).

4.6 Economic access

Ensure the Museum in Manchester is open at least 355 days per year, seven days a week (unless require to close by law, or restricted by events outside of our control).

As a charging museum, offer a flexible range of affordably priced tickets, which are valid for use for a whole year.

Offer concession rates for people in receipt of benefits, students and senior citizens.

In part due to the nature of our funding, offer free access to schools and residents of the City of Manchester council area in which the Museum is located.

Ensure affordable subsidised pricing for the facilitated visits of primary and secondary schools.

Develop projects aimed at Manchester City Council low-income residents and promote the Museum in general to these hard-to-reach groups.

4.7 Geographic access

Provide a rich online experience.

Provide object loans to other museums nationally and internationally.

Develop touring exhibitions and displays in public spaces.