Access Information

Accessibility

We hope that anyone wishing to join Explore and attend sessions can do so with confidence and comfort.

Below you'll find some information about the site and accessibility. You might also find our Frequently Asked Questions page helpful too.

If you have any other questions or concerns, if you would like to arrange a visit to the site to check access or if there is anything else you'd like to discuss please email us HERE and we will reply as soon as possible.

Regularly Used Venues

The majority of our Face-to-Face sessions are held at Brunswick Methodist Church, Brunswick Place, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7BJ.

Other venues are occasionally used (for example Newcastle Art Centre, Great North Museum) however we always endeavour to use accessible spaces for our sessions. (Very rare exceptions might include a visit/workshop in an artist's studio however we could discuss any access needs presented in advance.)

During the spring term we sometime programme Guided Walks or Tours. These are generally on accessible routes but specific consideration can also be given and discussed with tutors/group leaders to accommodate members' requirements.

We also programme a range of Zoom Only and Blended (Face-to-Face & Zoom options combined) talks and courses so members can enjoy sessions from the comfort of their own home or wherever they choose to Zoom in from.

Access to Site

Brunswick MC is located close to bus routes and Monument metro station. It can be accessed on foot from Northumberland Street (behind Fenwicks) or on foot/access road from Blackett Street (behind Waterstones).

There is no public parking on site generally, however there is limited blue-badge parking in Brunswick Place. Cars can pick up/drop off at the entrance also - vehicular access is via the Pilgrim Street end only. (Permissable routes for private cars in Newcastle City Centre are limited and changing so you may wish to plan your route before setting off to avoid complications)

Access to Rooms & Facilities Within Building

Explore generally uses three spaces within Brunswick MC - the Hall and two smaller teaching rooms. There is also a volunteer Cafe/Coffee Shop which is occasionally open during our sessions.

The main entrance has step-free access via a ramp - that leads through two sets of automatic doors in to the cafe area.

The hall can be accessed step-free via a corridor (to the right, behind the cafe, down a corridor and in through a side door to the Hall) OR from the main entrance via a short flight of stairs (4 steps)

The smaller teaching rooms can be accessed via a lift (to the right, behind the cafe, along the corridor to the teaching rooms) OR from the main entrance via a full flight of stairs.

There are accessible toilets close to all teaching spaces.

There is a hearing loop in the Hall but not in the smaller teaching rooms.

The Hall and teaching rooms all have free-standing chairs (ie not fixed seating).

Extra Assistance and Carers/PA

Carers/Personal Assistants are welcome to accompany members to sessions at no extra cost.

It is helpful for us to know if this is a possible requirement when you join (in order to manage our attendance/capacity figures) but there is no need to give any extra notice for individual sessions.

As we are a volunteer run organisation we do not have a staff team on site, however we do have a welcoming and considerate membership who can offer direction and a friendly arm of support to fellow attendees. If you would feel more comfortable with a designated point of contact at sessions please let us know in advance and we can try to arrange this.

Documents - Joining and Other Resources

The majority of our paperwork and resources are completed/provided online via our website or member mailouts, however we will try to accommodate and extra needs/alternative options if you require anything in a different format.

To join Explore we have an online form which can be completed remotely via the website, or a printable PDF version which can be completed manually and scanned or returned as a hard copy.

Other resources might include advance reading circulated before a class (eg poetry of short stories) - we circulate advance reading as PDFs via our Members' Weekly Bulletin (via email). We do not generally provide alternative formats for documents but will try to accommodate any requests.

We hope to make any and all members and visitors feel welcome at Explore events so please do contact us if you have any questions, additional requests or if there is anything else you would like to discuss.

Check out our video to find out more about the Explore experience:

(Please note: this video was filmed at our previous location and the telephone number is no longer active - instead you can can contact us HERE)