Ringway support NCW with accessibility enhancements and new features on the NCW campus - New College Worcester

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Ringway support NCW with accessibility enhancements and new features on the NCW campus

October 17, 2024

A chance meeting between Mobility Staff and Ringway has led to significant accessibility enhancements and new features on the NCW campus, including a specialised mobility training area.

The ability to get around our campus, and the wider world, with confidence is central to the future success of our students. Our lessons begin on campus where there are hundreds of subtle cues such as bold colours and different textures on the floors and walls. Students are encouraged to explore the campus and identify these clues and landmarks to orientate their environment and develop their mapping skills.

During the summer, having spotted the NCW Mobility Team training on Whittington Road, Ringway reached out to see if there was anything they could do to help our students. They arranged a site visit to look at the grounds with different tactile crossings, road works and surface courses. Upon inspection, they identified various areas that could easily be improved and made more accessible for students, staff and people with a vision impairment.

The Ringway Team wanted to support NCW and complete the works without any cost to the college. They generously started the ball rolling to source materials and help from their contacts for:

12 x drop kerbs with tactiles that lead onto zebra crossing points
4 sections of tarmac to replace slabs
A training area with different types of tactile crossings for familiarization training
Tactiles at external stairs to highlight for students
Reset areas of block paving
Lining works and remaking of 4 x zebra crossings
Give ways and slow markings
Pedestrian railing to denominate a limited access area for students
Stick on tactiles for the school to fit internal at stairs again to help student movement.

The following companies generously contributed and donated supplies:

TMP solutions who have provided the stick on tactiles for inside the building to help when the students are approaching the stairs
Charcon who have provided the kerbs & tactiles for the stairs and access points and the tactile training area
Tarmac for proving the tarmac that will be used to replace the lifting areas of slab
Alpha Aggregates for providing the sand for laying of all the tactiles
Gap for providing the plant that will help move materials for the works
Headway for providing the Traffic Management equipment that has been donated to provide a dummy site on campus to help with training when the students are out and about on the network
Macdonalds for doing the tarmac laying for access to the Gym and sports area
WJ Lining for providing a team to relay the zebra crossings, road markings and parking areas
Keyline for providing the blister tactiles for the drop crossings
Teme civils who are going to be helping relay some block work
WCC for helping with the stats for on site enabling us to carry out the works

The work was completed in August when the students were at home enjoying their summer holidays and the campus is a lot quieter.

The amazing new Mobility Training Area is located to the left of the swimming pool building. The Mobility Team are incredibly happy with the new area and started training on it straight away! There is different tactile paving that students are encouraged to explore when walking through the area and during Mobility lessons.

The following tactile paving is :

Lozengier paving can be used to identify trams and bus stops (Now at all the tram stops in Birmingham).

Corduroy paving to identify slopes and steps

Blister paving to identify controlled crossing and zebra crossings.

Ringway also generously supplied materials and labour for the project, and we are truly grateful for their support. Their contributions have been invaluable in helping us achieve our goals, and we deeply appreciate their commitment to enhancing our campus facilities. This collaboration has made a significant difference, and we look forward to continuing our partnership in the future.

The students and staff returned to NCW in September and were amazed by the improvements and additions to campus. Students were keen to invite Ringway back to NCW so that they could thank them in person, see the new areas in action and also have a tour of the school during a school day.

They also aimed to create an “Abbey Road Beetle” photograph to commemorate this special occasion and to honour the hard work and dedication that countless individuals have contributed to NCW. This iconic image serves as a lasting tribute to the collaborative efforts and commitment that have been instrumental in driving our initiatives forward.

"We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Ringway for their tremendous support and generosity towards NCW. Your commitment has made a significant impact on our community, helping us enhance accessibility and opportunities for our students. Thank you for standing with us in our mission to empower young blind people”

image of Christine

Christine Clarke

Facilities Manager

"What a pleasure it has been for not just myself but for Ringway as a whole, helping the college to update their grounds and how we are very proud to be able to help such a great local organisation like yourselves. It was really nice meeting the pupils and staff and getting a good understanding of the daily challenges they face that we can so easily take for granted. We are looking forward to coming back and doing more work with the college and also forming a strong relationship in the future. As a local business we are proud to be able to help within our local community and value creating these strong ties for the future."

Lee Salter

Ringway

"We are overjoyed that Ringway were able to volunteer their time and resources to ensure that we have an excellent training ground at NCW. This training ground will help establish safety skills that our students will need in train stations, bus and tram stops and road crossing. We look forward to continuing this positive relationship with Ringway."

Blister paving to identify controlled crossing and zebra crossings. in the mobility training

NCW Mobility Team