Easton Community Centre run by Eastside Community Trust

Eastside Community Trust is a cornerstone of the vibrant and diverse Easton community in Bristol. Managing both the Easton Community Centre and Felix Road Adventure Playground, they provide dynamic spaces for community events, open-access activities, and other local organisations.

The Eastside Community Trust has a long-standing connection to Bristol’s Disabled people’s movement. The building previously housed the Avon Coalition of Disabled People (ACDP), an organisation that played a key role in promoting accessibility and disability rights in the region. Notably, WECIL (West of England Centre for Inclusive Living) grew out of the Avon Coalition, making this partnership especially meaningful.

Service delivered: Access Audit

The Challenge

Although Eastside Community Centre has a rich legacy of accessibility and inclusion, the passage of time brought new challenges. The evolving structure of the buildings, combined with outdated infrastructure, had created several barriers for Disabled people.

Physical Accessibility:

- A lack of lifts and modern accessible facilities limited access to different areas of the building.

- Parking issues, including faded Disabled bays and insufficient dropped curbs, made entry more difficult.

Navigational Challenges:

- Poor signage and a lack of accessible communication tools made it harder for people to navigate the space confidently, particularly neurodivergent visitors and those with hearing or visual impairments.

Our Approach

Recognising these challenges, we worked with Eastside Community Centre to undertake a comprehensive accessibility audit of the venue. The audits were grounded in the social model of disability, which focuses on identifying and removing barriers in environments, rather than placing the responsibility for access on individuals.

Our process involved detailed site visits to assess the physical layout, infrastructure, and communication tools of both venues. Following the audits, WECIL provided Eastside Community Centre with a set of clear, actionable recommendations, prioritised based on their impact and feasibility. These solutions aimed to address immediate needs while also paving the way for long-term accessibility improvements.

The Solution

Based on our recommendations, Eastside Community Trust implemented several key improvements to its venues.

Physical Accessibility: A new lift was installed at Easton Community Centre, ensuring that all floors are now accessible to visitors with mobility impairments. Plans are also underway to renovate toilets, bringing them up to modern accessibility standards.

Improved Navigation: New signage was introduced throughout the venues, featuring clear fonts, strong contrast, and logical placement. These enhancements make it easier for all visitors, particularly neurodivergent and visually impaired individuals, to navigate the spaces independently.

Enhanced Communication Tools: A hearing loop system and upgraded audio-visual technology were installed to ensure events, meetings, and activities are more accessible to d/Deaf and hard-of-hearing visitors.

These changes reflect Eastside Community Trust’s commitment to creating inclusive and welcoming environments that serve the needs of their entire community.

The Outcome

This partnership has resulted in significant accessibility improvements at Eastside Community Centre. The installation of a new lift, updated signage, and the addition of a hearing loop system have addressed key barriers identified during the accessibility audit. These changes reflect a commitment to making the spaces more usable, inclusive, and welcoming for all.

While further work is planned, including toilet renovations and parking improvements, these initial steps ensure that the venues align with modern accessibility standards and uphold their historical legacy as spaces central to the Disabled people’s movement. This collaboration demonstrates the value of expert-led accessibility reviews and thoughtful implementation, showing how practical changes can make a meaningful difference in creating environments that truly work for everyone.

What They Say

‘Eastside Community Trust worked with WECIL on accessibility audits for both our community venues. We found them to be professional, approachable, and great to work with. We have used the audits to help us plan future investment to ensure greater accessibility of our venues for all Disabled people. We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to other building owners looking for expert advice.’

Stacy | Eastside Community Trust

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Get in contact

To find out more about any of our services, becoming a partner or about volunteering opportunities for Disabled people within Disability.Inc., please reach out to us – we would love to hear from you.

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Charity number: 1053515 | VAT Number: 444 2636 00

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