Widgit symbols for the words Inclusion and Church, with label Together

Access and Inclusion at St Vincent's Church

 We seek to offer all parishioners and visitors to our church equality of access, along with a friendly, warm welcome. 
If you are visiting us, and want detailed information, please scroll down the page for a description of all aspects of the church related to access. Please do come and make yourselves known to us.

Access Summary

  • Designated spaces in the car park. Ramp access to automatic door 
  • Level access from main entrance and throughout
  • All doors wide enough for person using a wheelchair
  • Wheelchair available
  • Holy Communion may be received at your seat
  • Row of cushioned chairs, including 2 with arms
  • Sit or kneel as comfortable
  • Live streamed masses
  • Loop system
  • Larger print Order of Service
  • Alternative Bulletin presentations on request
  • Toilets and accessible toilet in Narthex
  • Accessible toilet has baby nappy change
  • Narthex, hall, available if you need space during services​
  • Drinking bowl for assistance dog

Documents
Progress so Far
  • Audit completed by Inclusion Working group, with Action Plan agreed by Parish Council
  • 2 named contacts via Parish Office-​Catherine Livingston and Katharine Ryan-Murray for issues related to access and inclusion.
  • Keep in Touch Cards and New Parishioner Cards ask "Do you have any access needs?"
  • Live streaming of masses for those restricted to their home environment
  •  Widgit symbol support used in Liturgy for Children, and by individual parishioners during mass. Symbol resources can be created for anyone on request
  • Widgit symbols are used for Welcome and toilet signage, and in the kitchen.
  • We have joined the Through the Roof online map to show that all are welcome and that we are ready to listen to find out how we can enable full inclusion​ Through the Roof online map

Next Steps

  • On-going Consultation to identify, for example, barriers for individuals, and ministries people want to be involved in
  • Training in disability awareness, including for Welcomers
  • Development of modifications already made for blind and partially sighted people​
  • Display of sticker showing St Vincent's as breastfeeding friendly
  • ​Gathering a group to plan resources to support young children/families in church

National News

Raising awareness of the issues deaf people face in their everyday lives. About recognition, inclusion, and action for the 50 million people world-wide that live with cerebral palsy. A day to celebrate the achievements of the CP community, challenge barriers, and push for a more accessible, inclusive world. Raising awareness of dyslexia and challenging common misconceptions. Raising awareness of mental health issues around the world and to mobilising efforts in support of mental health: an opportunity for those working on mental health issues to talk about their work, and what more needs to be done to make mental health care a reality for people worldwide.
​

​Celebration of Sunday Mass for Disability Awareness Day September 2025

The Detail

​Access into and around St Vincent’s Church
  • SVP have drivers available to provide transport for disabled people. Please ask
  • Entrance to car park is on Pickmere Road. There is a Drop Off area and 2 designated accessible parking spaces
  • Rest of car park available to all visitors to church and church hall. Car park is smooth tarmac, with a slight slope up towards the entrance
  • There is external lighting, but please ask for assistance if needed to find your way safely to your car in the dark.
  • On street parking is available on Pickmere Road and Fitzgerald Road
  • Ramp access from car park to automatic doors which open outwards. To exit, press button on wall to left of doors
  • There are also 4 steps with 2 handrails
  • There is level access throughout the building. All doors are wide enough for a person who uses a wheelchair
  • Corridor leads to narthex, past door to hall on your right
  • Level access also to main entrance from corner of Pickmere Road and Fitzgerald Road. Both doors can be opened to provide wider access
  • Welcomers are available in the narthex at Sunday masses. If you have particular access requirements, ask them to assist you.
  • A wheelchair is available in the narthex. Please ask a Welcomer or phone in advance on 0114 268 0716    
  • Holy Water Font is in centre of narthex. There are noticeboards and leaflets available. The Piety Stall is to the right of the main entrance. The sound system relays the Mass to the narthex. Seats are available here for people who need to rest on the way in, or want space during services
  • There is a Meetings Room to the left of the main entrance, generally used for Liturgy for Children during Mass
  • The Parish Hall is accessed from the narthex and can be used as a breakout space
​​The Church
  • The church is accessed from the narthex via 2 doors.
  • The floor slopes slightly down towards the altar. There are 2 centre aisles and 2 side aisles. When present, the music group plays in the right-hand side aisle. 
  • A handheld microphone is available for Readers where required
  • If you want to receive Holy Communion at your seat, rather than approaching the altar, please tell a Welcomer beforehand
  • Emergency exits are on either side of the church
  • The Sacrament of Reconciliation takes place in a room to the right of the entrance doors. Please ask if you need assistance with this or if you have any additional access requirements.
​Seating
  • There is a space for a person using a wheelchair on either side of the central aisle, second row
  • There are 2 cushioned chairs with arms, and other individual cushioned chairs in the back rows of the central aisles. Please feel free to move this flexible seating to accommodate your access requirements, or ask a Welcomer for assistance.
  • General seating is on wooden pews
  • You are free to sit or kneel: whichever is more comfortable
  • If you know you are coming to St Vincent’s and have a particular seating request, we will be happy to try to help.
Heating
  • The church is warm all year. Windows are opened throughout the year to maintain ventilation.
Online
  • Sunday masses are live streamed and recorded. Weekday masses are livestreamed. Link is on the Home Page
  • The Homily and Bulletin are available online on the Home Page
  • The Gospel and Homily are pre-recorded every week for the Parish Whatsapp group, with subtitles. Ask a Welcomer about joining.
For a person who is Deaf or hard of hearing
  • There is a loop system in the church
  • There are speakers on the right and left side of the altar, and 2 at the back.
For a person who is blind or partially sighted
  • Larger Order of Mass cards are available; please ask a Welcomer.
  • Large print bulletins can be printed on request; please email [email protected] or phone 0114 268 0716
  • A drinking bowl is available for an assistance dog. Please ask a Welcomer.
Toilets
  • Toilets are labelled using Widgit symbols
  • There is an accessible toilet to the left of the rear entrance. It has hand rails, but does not have a changing bench.​
  • There is a baby nappy change unit in the accessible toilet
  • The men’s toilet is the next door on the right of the accessible toilet, and the ladies’ toilet is the furthest door.
  • If you have any particular access requirement you want us to be aware of before you visit, please email or phone.
​Quiet / breakout spaces
  • We have an ‘open door’ policy if you need space during services
  • The narthex, hall, and Meetings Room (if not being used for Liturgy for Children) are all available as breakout spaces
  • Children’s books are available at the back of church
Music
  • 9.30am Mass usually has a number of musicians with instruments including guitar, flute, tin whistle, keyboard, bodhran
  • 6.30pm mass has music fortnightly- either organ or guitar/ keyboard
  • Sound system is set at a moderate volume, with speakers on the right and left side of the altar, and 2 at the back.
Getting here by bus       
The 52 bus takes about 20 minutes from city centre and stops nearby at Crookes/ Brick Street bus stop, with a 4-minute walk via Sackville Road. The 52 bus from Hillsborough stops at Crookes/ Sackville Road bus stop, then a 2 minute walk via Sackville Road. 
 
This information has been prepared by the Together: Access and Inclusion Group at St Vincent’s.
Please add your access needs to a Keep in Touch Card in the narthex