How accessible is Britain’s heritage?

New research¹ from specialist heritage insurer Ecclesiastical and the Heritage Alliance has revealed that accessibility is a top priority for most heritage organisations.

Engaging diverse audiences and ensuring everyone, including people with additional needs, has access to heritage is a key priority for the sector. Three-quarters (77%) of the heritage workers surveyed said accessibility is extremely or very much prioritised at their organisation. Just 5% said improving accessibility isn’t currently a priority.

The majority of heritage organisations include accessibility as part of their stated policies or commitments (65%), strategic objectives (62%), and planning (60%). Two in five (41%) say accessibility is also part of their organisation’s mission statement.

Three in five (59%) have a member of staff or volunteer whose role or part of their role is focused specifically on improving accessibility at their organisation.

Heritage organisations are prioritising engagement with a wide range of audiences, including engaging people with physical disabilities and mobility issues (54%), engaging older people and people with dementia (49%), and engaging people who are struggling with mental health issues and their families or carers (38%).

The National Trust² has partnered with the Alzheimer’s Society to make all of its sites dementia-friendly. For example, at Wimpole in Cambridge, the Trust hosts a Farming Memories group, which encourages former farmers and agricultural workers with dementia to meet up and take part in farming activities.

Despite many organisations prioritising accessibility as part of their policies and strategic objectives, two in five (43%) feel their organisation isn’t doing enough to be accessible to people with additional needs.

Of those who feel their organisation isn’t doing enough, providing more information (57%), installing more accessible toilets or Changing Places toilets (46%), and having better wheelchair access, such as ramps (40%) are the top three things they feel their organisation should do to improve accessibility for people with additional needs.

Changing Places toilets³ have more space and equipment compared to accessible toilets. They include a range of equipment, including a height-adjustable changing bench, a peninsular toilet, and a ceiling hoist. Of the organisations surveyed, more than one in six (16%) have a Changing Places currently installed.

For example, the Science Museum Group⁴ has opened three Changing Places facilities at the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester, the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford, and the Science Museum in London.

Physical access to buildings and facilities can provide a challenge for some heritage organisations. Half (51%) of the heritage workers surveyed said all or most of their buildings and facilities are wheelchair accessible. However, one in 10 (9%) said none of their buildings and facilities are wheelchair accessible.

Of those who don’t have accessible buildings, the main barrier cited is a lack of funding to make adjustments and install lifts.

Heritage organisations would like more support from the sector to help them address accessibility, including more funding, sharing of best practice, and making more guidance and training available.

¹ Online survey of 81 heritage organisations conducted between 7 July 2021 and 1 December 2021

² Our partnership with Alzheimer's Society | National Trust

³ Changing Places Toilets (changing-places.org)

⁴Toilets for all: Joining the Changing Places network - Science Museum Group