Darlington AssociationArts, Leisure and Sports Guide
The scope of leisure activities is very wide and a guide like this cannot detail everything. As a general rule it helps to contact any destination in advance to make sure you can enjoy it. Many leisure opportunities may be limited for disabled people due to bad access, lack of sign language interpreters and other obstacles. This section aims to enable you to plan ahead before taking part in leisure activities and manage any obstacles. It outlines main sources of information about local facilities and organised art and leisure events for disabled people.
Contents
Arts and Leisure Information
Arts and Leisure Service Providers
Sport Information
Sport Services
Information about local Social Activities
Providers of local Social Activities
Other Sources of Information
Contacts
Arts and Leisure Information
The Good Gallery Guide website was started to assist disabled people plan visits to art galleries. For each gallery is listed details of how to get there, what facilities are available and a personal review of the gallery. The people behind the website aim to work with galleries to improve their access by providing positive advice.
The Northern Disability Arts Forum (NorDAF) is an arts development service, which exists to empower disabled people in Durham, Northumberland, Teesside and Tyne & Wear through the promotion of disability arts and culture. It produces the Disability Arts Directory, an on-line resource with information about disabled and deaf artists who live and work in the North East, British Sign Language interpreters, access consultants and potential funders
If you are planning a trip to London, visit the Artsline website. This has extensive information on many venues across the capital. Artsline also runs Attitude-is-everything, which was set up in response to young disabled people's complaints of unfair treatment at live music venues, clubs and festivals in the UK.
Return to ContentsArts and Leisure Service Providers
Darlington Arts Centre and Civic Theatre offer several facilities to make their performances accessible to more people. Ask what is available when booking tickets.
The Arts Centre main entrance is ramped and there is level access to the Theatre, Ballroom, Bistro, Main Bar and other ground floor rooms. There are a few steps up to the Garden Bar and other rooms are up one or more flights of stairs. There is level access into the Civic Theatre from Borough Road into the Stalls and the Conservatory Bar. There are double yellow lines at this entrance, but it is usually possible to stop and set down passengers.
There are no lifts at the Civic Theatre or the Arts Centre. Wheelchair users and people with a visual impairment may bring a companion free of charge. Wheelchair spaces are charged at a concessionary rate for performances where concessions are available. There are adapted toilets suitable for wheelchair users and people with a mobility impairment.
‘What's On’, the Arts Centre & Civic Theatre's season brochure, is available in audio cassette version, large print format or braille. Audio described performances are also marked in ‘What's On’. Touch tours of the set may be arranged one hour before an audio described performance, but the request needs to be made to the box office at least two days in advance when booking tickets. Guide dogs are welcome and water bowls can be provided. Ask the Front of House staff on arrival. Programmes are available in braille at some performances.
There is an infra-red system in the auditorium at the Civic Theatre. Ask for a free receiver when booking tickets. There is an audio loop in both the Civic Theatre and the Arts Centre for people with hearing aids. Sign language interpreted performances are marked in the ‘What's On’ diary. A request should be made for the best seats for this service when booking. Headsets are available from front of house staff. Please arrange in advance with box office staff.
Darlington Railway Museum focuses upon Stockton and Darlington Railway history. Several events are held throughout the year. Most parts of the museum are wheelchair accessible, including an accessible toilet.
Teesside Park is a leisure and retail complex which includes a cinema, bowling hall, bars, clubs, supermarket and shops. The Hollywood Bowl provides ramps to all areas, ramps to enable bowling, accessible toilet facilities. The retail area in the park offers accessible parking bays and accessible toilet facilities. The Showcase Cinema is wheelchair accessible, with accessible parking bays, accessible toilet facilities and staff able to assist when required.
Return to ContentsSport Information
The Ambulant and Wheelchair Disabled Supporters group works to promote access to football stadiums and encourages the sharing of information about facilities on its website.
Riding for the Disabled can provide information and advice about horse riding. Various riding schools in the area can provide assistance with riding, including equipment and individual support. For a list of riding schools contact the regional representative. The Uni-Corn Centre in Middlesbrough is registered as a centre for Riding for the Disabled.
Return to ContentsSport Services
Cirdan Trust provides adventure sailing onboard ‘Hartlepool Renaissance’ (12 berth) and ‘Black Diamond’ (7 berth) for all ages and abilities. Courses can be developed and a full range of Royal Yachting Association (RYA) training can be provided.
Durham Area Disability Leisure Group provides leisure opportunities for disabled people of all ages, living within County Durham and surrounding areas. It offers sports taster sessions, family activities and adapted push bikes for groups and individuals, including tandems and side-by-side bikes.
The English Federation of Disability Sport is the national body responsible for developing sport for disabled people in England and has a regional office in Durham. It works closely with seven national disability sports organisations recognised by Sport England. These are: British Amputees and Les Autres Sports Association; British Blind Sport; British Deaf Sport; British Wheelchair Sports Foundation; Cerebral Palsy Sport; Disability Sport England and English Sports Association for People with Learning Disabilities.
Leisure centres provide a variety of sporting and leisure activities. The facilities available for disabled people may vary from one centre to another. Darlington Borough Council's Community Services Department provides a variety of sporting and leisure activities. In Darlington, the Dolphin Centre has been working to improve its accessibility and offers several facilities to enable participation. The leaflet ‘Leisure Access for All’ details access at all of Darlington Borough Council's leisure facilities, including Eastbourne Sports Complex, Stressholme Golf and numerous parks.
The Pioneering Care Partnership (PCP) at Newton Aycliffe has a hydrotherapy pool available to individuals and groups. Accompanying carers are not charged.
Return to ContentsInformation about local Social Activities
Contact Darlington Association on Disability or Darlington Council for Voluntary Service (CVS) for their extensive knowledge of local groups who offer both social and voluntary working opportunities.
Providers of local Social Activities
Darlington Borough Council's Youth Service can provide information on a range of accessible venues and inclusive activities in local youth clubs.
Gateway Clubs offer different activities and events locally for children and adults with learning difficulties. Contact Darlington Gateway Club for more information about venues and activities.
The Disabled United website offers an online contact and chat service for disabled people.
Return to ContentsOther Sources of Information
Other sections of the Darlington Association on Disability Information Guide may contain further information relevant to arts, sports and leisure activities.
The Access section gives further information regarding access issues to leisure and sporting facilities. The Consumer Issues section gives details on shopping.
The Education section has information regarding educational providers of art, sport and leisure courses.
The Legal Rights section gives further information regarding the Disability Discrimination Act.
The Media section provides information on tapes, books, television, radio, video and internet interests.
Contact Darlington Association on Disability's Information Service for assistance with searching for information about any subject in this guide or for support in dealing with your information requests.
There are a number of local and national organisations providing broad information and advice resources. Please refer to this guide's Introduction for contact details.
Return to ContentsContacts
Ambulant and Wheelchair Disabled Supporters
2 Coopers Fold
Ribbleton
Preston
PR2 6HW
Telephone / fax : 01772 700788
Minicom :
Email : barbs@awads.co.uk
Website :
Artsline
54 Chalton St
London NW1 1HS
Telephone : 020 7388 2227
Minicom : 020 7388 2227
Fax : 020 7383 2653
E-mail: access@artsline.org.uk
Website : www.artsline.org.uk
Cirdan Sailing Trust
3 Chandlers Quay
Fullbridge
Maldon
Essex CM9 4LF
Telephone : 01621 851433
Fax : 01621 840045
Minicom :
E-mail : info@cirdansailing.com
Website : www.cirdansailing.com
Darlington Arts Centre & Civic Theatre
Head of Theatre & Arts
Parkgate
Darlington DL1 1RR
Telephone : 01325 486555
Fax :
The Civic Theatre
minicom : 01325 387761
The Arts Centre
minicom : 01325 489094
E-mail : access@darlington-arts.co.uk
Website : www.darlingtonarts.co.uk
Darlington Association on Disability
20-22 Horsemarket
Darlington DL1 5PT
Telephone 01325 489 999
Fax : 01325 488 188
Minicom : 01325 245 061
Email : mail@darlingtondisability.org
Website : www.darlingtondisability.org
Dolphin Centre
Darlington Borough Council
Horsemarket
Darlington DL1 5PT
Telephone : 01325 388406
Fax :
Minicom :
Email : leisure.services@darlington.gov.uk
Website : www.darlington.gov.uk
Darlington Council for Voluntary Service
Church Row
Darlington DL1 5QD
Telephone : 01325 266888
Fax : 01325 266899
Minicom :
e-mail :
Website :
Darlington Gateway Club
Salters Lane
Darlington
Telephone : 01325 250421
Fax :
Minicom :
E-mail :
Website :
Darlington Railway Museum
North Road Station
Darlington DL3 6ST
Telephone : 01325 460532
Fax : 01325 287746
Minicom :
E-mail : museum@darlington.gov.uk
Website : www.drcm.org.uk
Disabled United
Website : www.disabledunited.com
Durham Area Disability Leisure Group
Sacriston Community Centre
Front Street
Sacriston DH7 6JT
Telephone : 0191 3711266
Fax : 0191 3711266
Minicom :
E-mail :
Website :
English Federation of Disability Sport
Manchester Metropolitan University
Alsager Campus
Hassall Road
Alsager
Stoke on Trent ST7 2HL
Telephone : 0161 247 5294
Fax : 0161 247 6895
Minicom : 0161 247 5644
E-mail : federation@efds.co.uk
Website : www.efds.co.uk
Member organisation websites :
British Amputees and Les Autres Sports Association
British Blind Sport
British Deaf Sport
British Wheelchair Sports Foundation
Cerebral Palsy Sport
Disability Sport England
English Sports Association for People with Learning Disabilities
English Federation of Disability Sport North
House of Sport
University of Durham
South End House
South Road
Durham DH1 3TG
Telephone : 0191 334 7207
Fax : 0191 334 7201
Minicom : 0191 334 7210
E : mail: northeast@efds.co.uk
Website :
Good Gallery Guide
The Art House
Wakefield College
Margaret Street
Wakefield WF1 2DH
Telephone : 01924 377 740
Fax : 01924 377 090
Minicom: 01924 377310
Email: info@the-arthouse.org.uk
Website : www.goodgalleryguide.com
Northern Disability Arts Forum
MEA House
Ellison Place
Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8XS
Telephone : 0191 222 0708
Fax : 0191 233 1771
Minicom : 0191 261 2238
E-mail : contact through website
Website : www.nordaf.org
Pioneering Care Partnership (PCP)
Cobblers Hall
Off Burn Lane
Newton Aycliffe DL5 4SF
Telephone : 01325 321234
Fax : 01325 301129
Minicom :
E-mail : enquiries@pcp.uk.net
Website : www.pcp.uk.net
Riding for the Disabled
The Unicorn Centre
Stainton Way
Hemlington
Middlesbrough TS8 9LX
Telephone : 01642 576222
Fax : 01642 576254
Minicom :
Email: enquiries@unicorn-centre.freeserve.co.uk
Website: www.communigate.co.uk/ne/unicorn
Riding for the Disabled Association
National Headquarters
Lavinia Norfolk House
Avenue R
National Agricultural Centre
Stoneleigh Park
Warwickshire CV8 2LY
Telephone : 02476 696510
Fax: 02476 696532
Minicom :
Email: rdahq@riding-for-disabled.org.uk
Website: www.riding-for-disabled.org.uk
Teesside Park
Telephone :
Fax :
Minicom :
E-mail :
Website :
Youth Service
Darlington Borough Council
Telephone : 01325 362957
Fax :
Minicom :
E-mail :
Website : www.darlington.gov.uk