SAM ROWLANDS, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, welcomes new panel to ensure public spaces and buildings across North Wales are accessible to all.
During Disability History Month the North Wales Public Service Boards have launched an Access Panel as part of a two-year initiative to promote inclusivity and accessibility in public spaces including hospitals, libraries, community centres and others.
Mr Rowlands, Shadow Health Minister said: “I welcome this new project which will bring together representatives from all different organisations working together to carry out access surveys in public areas.
“It is vitally important that we make sure that everyone can access public spaces such as hospitals, libraries, and community and leisure centres.
“I think it is an amazing opportunity for all the representatives on the panel, with all their different backgrounds and experiences, to make this two year initiative work.”
The North Wales Access Panel is made up of representatives of third sector organisations and is being funded by the Public Service Boards with additional funding from the North West Wales Community Cohesion Fund.
The panel members will receive training to effectively carry out access surveys in public spaces and provide feedback reports to ensure the accessibility of services and spaces.
The panel will be led by Sarah Thomas, Managing Director of Centre of Sign Sight Sound, and will have membership from approximately 40 representatives of third sector organisations across North Wales, to be able to gain training and information that can be used to inform their own inclusive and accessibility policies.
Sarah said: “This is an amazing opportunity for third sector organisations and more importantly, people with lived experience, to inform and influence accessibility in public spaces. It is great that access to information is included as it is often forgotten.
“I am excited to work with a diverse team of people to support statutory services and other organisations to ensure their services are accessible to everyone.”
The Public Service Boards are supported by the six North Wales local authorities and public sector organisations including Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board which is supporting the planning and implementation of the initiative as part of their Strategic Equality Plan.
