Overview

Yorkshire Cancer Research kindly invited Disability Action Yorkshire Charity to visit their recently opened fitness and wellbeing facilities, café and shop. This is situated at Hornbeam Park in Harrogate and provides excellent spacious facilities for visitors and for those attending the fitness and wellbeing programme 'Active Together' implemented by the Charity. The café offers a range of delicious food and beverages (and Yorkshire tea) and the Shop also offers a wide range of goods. The location is near to the Yorkshire Show Ground and provides a range of scenic walks in close proximity.

Transport & Parking

There are three disabled parking spaces directly situated at the main entrance to the building. Further parking is also available adjacent to the premises. A low level and wide ramp is also located adjacent to the parking bays which makes access easy into the premises. Hornbeam Railway Station is within 1/4 miles of the the premises and has frequent trains, which is on the Leeds to York Railway Line. Hornbeam Park is also accessible by bus. There are a number of routes with the main one being route 36 which is the main Leeds to Harrogate to Ripon route and about 1/2 mile from the location.

Access

There is a wide double door access to the building and although the doors are not automated, a welcoming member of staff is always located close to the entrance should assistance be required. There is also a loop system in place at the welcome point, appropriately signed. There is a seating area close to the entrance should you wish to stop and rest, although the entrance is close to a spacious café area and also a spacious shop. What is noticeable, is that consideration has been given to providing good circulation space between tables and chairs and also around the shop, so very useful for wheelchair users or people with mobility issues. The counter to the café is at low level and there is also a counter loop system . There is an accessible lift to the first floor staff area and wide access around the offices.

Toilets

There are ample accessible toilet facilities situated at ground floor level and close to the café and shop. Access to the toilets is good and the facilities themselves include support rails, mirrors to low level, alarm cord to floor level and the flush handle is appropriately positioned so that you don't have to lean over the loo, which can sometimes be an issue. The toilets have good circulation space.

Staff

The staff and volunteers of the Charity are extremely welcoming. As mentioned earlier under the 'Disabled Access' section, a welcoming member of staff is situated at the entrance and this is extremely helpful in that if someone requires assistance they are on hand from the outset. Having a welcoming smile as soon as you enter a premises makes a great difference.

Anything else you wish to tell us?

Yorkshire Cancer Research are Covid aware. In addition and importantly, the premises have been designed to provide a fitness and wellbeing programme 'Active Together. Spacious areas are available enabling people to obtain free, personalised fitness, nutrition and wellbeing support following a cancer diagnosis, delivered by qualified professionals. Separate quiet rooms also exist whereby staff and people attending can meet to discuss and plan exercise programmes. Accessible toilet facilities and shower exist close to the fitness rooms.

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