The purpose of this policy is to set out the Hovercraft Museum’s commitment to maximising access and to identify the ways in which we achieve this across the organisation.
1. Statement of general principles
Our aim is to provide the widest possible access to people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds to access our museum, our collections, and the information about them.
We aim to build accessibility into everything that we do to develop and improve the Museum. Our policy is one of continuous incremental improvement as our resources permit.
2. Definition of terms
Access: we consider access to mean the opportunity to engage with our public spaces, collections, content activities and expertise. There are a number of key barriers to access:
- Physical: we aim to enable people with physical disabilities to reach and appreciate as many parts of the Museum as possible. To take into account the needs of the elderly and of people caring for young people.
- Sensory: we aim to enable visitors with impaired vision or hearing to enjoy the Museum’s building and collections.
- Intellectual: we recognise that people have different learning styles, and we will provide interpretation to cater for as wide a range as possible of learning styles. We also aim to ensure people with learning difficulties can engage with and enjoy the Museum and the collections.
- Cultural: we acknowledge cultural differences and will consider the needs of those whose cultural experience is different to that portrayed at the Museum.
- Attitudinal / Emotional: we will ensure the Museum environment and the Museum volunteers are welcoming to and represent visitors from all sections of the community, including historically marginalised groups.
- Financial: we will take into account that ability to pay can be a barrier to access and offer where appropriate reduced entry rates.
Our Access Plan (2022 – 2027) details plans for the implementation of the recommendations of the access audit undertaken in 2022 by an independent access auditor.
3. Access to the building
We aim to provide equal access to our building and its facilities for all our visitors. We have reasonable levels of physical access and strive to continually improve access in line with legislation and to the benefit of our visitors.
4. Access to collections
Our volunteers and trustees are committed to increasing public access to the collections and information and to increasing knowledge and understanding of hovercraft and their history.
We aim to provide varied means of accessing the collections, including displays, handling collections, exhibitions, publications, digital access, talks and events.
We aim to increase access to our stored collections through the web-based resources and through appointment.
We will continue to provide and improve upon levels of interpretation to suit a range of audiences and abilities and to explore new ways to engage with all our audiences.
5. Access to learning
We aim to provide learning opportunities for a variety of audiences recognising that people have different learning styles and levels of ability.
We will work in partnership with other local individuals, groups, and organisations to ensure that our activities continue to cater for all possible audiences.
6. Access to visitor services
Our front-of-house volunteers will assist and welcome all visitors. When possible, our volunteer stewards will be available in the buildings and on the craft to help our visitors understand and enjoy the collections.
We will provide an accessible map which will be available to visitors on request and on our website.
We aim to provide appropriate signage and wayfinding to suit a range of audiences and disabilities.
We will consider the comfort of the visitors by providing, where possible, accessible toilets, baby changing facilities, access for pushchairs, seating in the Museum and an on-site wheelchair.
7. Access to communication
We will promote the Museum’s activities and events in accessible formats and provide publicity material on request in alternative formats to meet a range of needs and languages.
We will provide a range of ways that people can communicate with us.
We will evaluate all our services and projects to ensure they meet the provision of this policy, and we will consult users and non-users on all new developments.
8. Reviewing the policy
Information on access will be available on our website.
We will review the Access Policy regularly to ensure it is in line with legislation, national guidelines
and standards.
We will continue to review and update the Access Plan and to undertake access improvements according to priority and in line with funding capacity.
9. Legal framework
The Museum works within the current legal frameworks, including:
- The Disability and Discrimination Act 1995
- The Data Protection Act 2018
- The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) 2018
- The Equality Act 2010
10. Review and Revision
This policy will be reviewed every 3 years.
Version 1. Date approved 7th March 2023