Access Statement, Do I Need One?
Access Statement, Do I Need One?
As the government continues its drive to raise the standards of accommodation in the UK those who subscribe to the Quality Standard Scheme operated by Visitbritain and the Automobile Association will be required to provide an Access Statement for their next inspection.
What is an Access Statement and what does it do and who does it benefit?
An Access Statement is a clearly written, accurate and honest description of the facilities currently on offer in your business. It should enable a visitor to make an informed decision on whether your establishment will meet their individual access needs.
It is designed to benefit clients who may or may not have particular needs during their proposed stay and who wish to satisfy themselves that your establishment is 'right' for them.
What should it contain and do you need special help to write it?
In basic terms your Access Statement should advise people of some of the detail of your business including bedroom size, door access, public area size, accessibility and other issues that some people consider important.
VisitEngland has offered some assistance to accommodation providers and produced examples and templates for all types of providers to use. You can see an example of an access statement for a B&B/Guesthouse here.
You can see a template here for completion which you can do online and which you can save again online if you do not manage to complete it all in one go.
Very much like the Fire Risk Assessment there is no one in a better placed than you to carry out your Assessment Statement. Only you know your own business as well as you do. Professional help can be called on but if you have all the answers would you really want to use a highly paid professional just to type up your thoughts?
I have posted up my Access Statement here
Good luck with yours.