Significant investment in facilities for people with disability has enabled London’s Royal College of Physicians to secure Royal Mail’s national conference on accessibility.
Royal Mail selected the venue for its recent ‘Accessibility and the Royal Mail Group’ event. The conference was attended by 80 delegates and speakers included the former Home Secretary David Blunkett.
The award-winning Royal College of Physicians is a historic Grade 1 listed modernist building overlooking Regent’s Park, and a prestigious conference venue. Its purpose designed facilities include two tiered lecture theatres with capacities for 140 and 300 respectively, a range of meeting and training rooms, exhibition spaces and dining facilities.
I’m deeply impressed with the investment and thought that has been put into making the facilities easy to use, and a friendly environment for those with disability. What other people take for granted (including necessities like toileting), requires a little thought to ensure full inclusivity and equality. I would expect nothing less from the Royal College, but it is impressive nevertheless.
David Blunkett
Former Home Secretary
The College has invested over £1.7m in improving accessibility throughout its facilities. Its architectural features include split-level floors and several staircases, but in the past these features have sometimes worked against inclusivity and accessibility. Four years ago, the venue therefore embarked on a programme of enhancement to meet the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act.
Changes have improved disabled access both inside and outside the building, including:
- an outside lift to improve access from the car park to the entrance hall, more disabled car parking spaces and automatic door for wheelchair users
- a lift between the split-level entrance hall and the main marble hall, where before there were only stairs
- new disabled access toilets with shower and wet room facilities as well as a separate unisex facility
- new facilities in the two conference theatres, including rails, accessible booths in the main theatre and better speaker access
“Our choice depended not only on finding a venue with outstanding levels of accessibility, but also an active awareness of access and inclusivity issues”, said Kay Allen, the Group’s Head of Social Inclusion and Diversity: “The RCP has demonstrated an exceptional commitment and proved an outstanding location for our event.”
” We were privileged to host this very significant event, and delighted that our facilities have helped to reinforce its theme,”
commented Clive Ostler, RCP General Manager, Marketing and Facilities.