Overview

The Centre for Student Life is an impressive part of Cardiff University, offering free and confidential support services for students covering everything from money, health, careers and employment. In addition, it features a Costa coffee, an accessible toilet and a Changing Places toilet, as well as student study spaces and lecture halls over its five floors. As a visitor, I was surprised at how welcome this location was and how good the facilities are.

Transport & Parking

Access

The building is accessed via automatic doors, and it features level access throughout with lifts to each floor. There is an induction loop at the front desk, which has a lowered counter, and an induction loop in the lifts and at the Costa. There's no shortage of seats across all five floors, and lift buttons have braille markings.

Toilets

On the ground floor, there are both an accessible toilet and a Changing Places toilet. Both are clean and well-maintained. Let's take a closer look. Changing Places Toilet: This well-equipped toilet is one of the best I've seen in Cardiff. It features an adjustable change bed, a shower, a ceiling track hoist, and an adjustable sink, which has blue grab rails on either side and mixer taps with long handles. The toilet is static, with contrasting grab rails. The flush is on the left when seated, as is the colostomy shelf. The emergency cord is on the right when seated, and a privacy screen is available. There's a second red cord at the door, which, to my knowledge, makes this a fully qualified Changing Places toilet. This toilet requires a RADAR key to unlock the door, which opens outwards. Accessible Toilet: The accessible toilet is small but still has enough room for a powerchair user and an additional person if needed. Unlike the Changing Places toilet, a RADAR key is not required. There is space for a left-side transfer only, but there is plenty of room to manoeuvre. The toilet has contrasting grab rails on either side, with a contrasting toilet seat, and the red cord is on the right when seated. The small sink has a lever-style tap, and the hand dryer is on the wall nearby. Surprisingly, this toilet features a shower and shower seat, although the seat was on the floor. The red cord hung freely in both instances.

Staff

Photos