Access statements

The national quality assurance schemes require all accommodation providers to write an access statement for their property. The access statement is designed to give visitors with disabilities the information that they need to decide whether your accommodation would be suitable for them: it should basically be a clear, accurate and honest description of your facilities and the services that you offer.

In order to help, Visit Britain have produced an access statement page on their trade website. Along with a good deal of guidance, the page contains links to an online template that you can complete and then save. There are also a number of downloadable examples of access statements, some from including the following:

Self-catering example 1 (pdf 121k)
Self-catering example 2 (pdf 135k)
Hotel example (pdf 169k)
B&B example 1 (pdf 98k)
B&B example 2 (pdf 115k)
Guest Accommodation example (pdf 133k)
Guest House example (pdf 61k)

You can also download the following documents:

An introduction to access statements (pdf 300k)
A contact list for further help (pdf 44k)
The National Accessible Scheme criteria (pdf 580k)

Other Accessibility Issues

Under the terms of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) all service providers have a legal obligation to make 'reasonable adjustments'.

EnjoyEngland have produced a leaflet, Easydoesit (pdf 550k), that suggests simple, low cost changes that tourism businesses can make in order to improve the accessibility of their businesses.

Tourism For All, a charity specialising in offering expertise and support to the tourism sector and disabled people wishing to access tourism services, has pubished a web page of easy tips to make your accommodation more accessible. Their website contains a wealth of information as well as a page of useful further information links for tourism businesses.

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One Step Ahead

The Standard to help you accommodate older and less mobile guests; it's not about disability - it's about helping you provide a more accessible business.  For example did you know that even if your business has steps to the front door or no ground floor bedrooms you can still achieve this standard?  Over one quarter of the UK population has a long-standing health problem or disability.  'One Step Ahead' can help you reach out to a wider market and grow your business.  Signing up  demonstrates that your business is serious about delivering excellent experiences to all visitors.

'One Step Ahead' is for Serviced, Self Catering, Hostel and Campus accommodation; Holiday, Tourism & Camping Parks and Caravan Holiday Homes.  It is the mobility entry level standard (M1) of the National Accessible Scheme (NAS).

One Step Ahead

For full details of the National Accessible Scheme go to www.visitengland.com/nas