Churchill College

Access Issues Contact

Senior Tutor

Tel.

01223 336 249

Fax

01223 336 180

Email

senior.tutor@chu.cam.ac.uk

 

For accommodation and facilities:

Tom Boden, Estates and Operations Director

Tel: 01223 336132

Email: Thomas.Boden@chu.cam.ac.uk

 

Website

https://www.chu.cam.ac.uk/about/contact

Location, Services and Transport

A 15 minute walk to the city centre. 25 minutes to Downing Site and New Museums Site. 15 minutes to Sidgwick Site. 10 minutes to University Library. Closest College to Departments of Physics, Mathematics, Veterinary Medicine, Astronomy and Computing.

Traffic

Storey's Way and the roads around the College are usually fairly busy with traffic at all times. However, Storey's way is currently (c.2021) closed to through traffic (except bikes) and is therefore very quie; this is experimental and will be reviewed.

Services and shops

Closest shops and services are in the city centre or on Histon Road. There is also large Sainsbury's supermarket a 15 minutes walk from Churchill in Eddington, along a wide, relatively flat cycle/pedestrian path.

Parking

There is designated disabled parking in the Fellows' car park, in the staff car park and outside the Master's Lodge. There is step-free access from all disabled bays to the main College buildings.

Other transport options

The bus stop at bottom of Storey's Way provides good link to most University sites including Addenbrooke's Hospital on the Universal (Uni) route. The number 4 bus goes from the same stop to Downing Street.

General Information

485 undergraduates and 375 postgraduates. For men and women. Modern College located just outside of centre but good for West Cambridge Site and Mathematics Dept. A detailed access audit was conducted in 2004, and the College has acted upon its recommendations. Manual wheelchair available to borrow from Porters.

Smoking

No smoking in any College buildings.

Medical facilities

Nurse holds a weekday surgery during full term (tel. 01223 736 133).

Emergency procedures

Advise Porters' Lodge if you would need help evacuating in an emergency. No evacuation chairs currently. Individual evacuation plans can be drawn up if needed.

Accommodation and Catering

Wheelchair-accessible rooms

Two rooms adapted for wheelchair users and five built for wheelchair users with wet rooms. All have an accessible kitchen nearby. Two have adjacent rooms suitable for an assistant. Two further rooms have been adapted for hearing impaired students.

Other rooms

A fair number of ground floor rooms, although for security reasons students are usually housed on upper floors. Over 250 rooms are en-suite.

Live-in assistants and assistance dogs

Live-in assistants and assistance dogs a possibility, but discuss well in advance. Assistants have been accommodated in the past.

Early induction and vacation stays

Early induction visits and staying over vacation possible on prior arrangement.

Catering arrangements

Cafeteria serves three meals daily in dining hall seven days a week. Formal dining (served at table) three nights a week. Epos card system for easy payment. Staircase kitchenettes are small and not really suitable for full self-catering. Some larger kitchens are available in Cowan Court and some postgraduate accomodation.

Special diets

Most special diets can be accommodated. Speak to catering manager. Products containing allergens are marked.

Physical Access

College grounds in general

Ramped access to main entrance. Generally the College is level and accessible, with ramps to most areas. The College site is rather large, and the chapel and study/music centres are a long walk away. All college buildings and grounds are, however, located on a single site. 

College buildings in general

Ground floor of main building is level and smooth, with wide corridors. The main doors are power operated. Most main rooms accessible. Few stairs have handrails. A lift in the main building gives easy access to the dining hall, MCR and first floor offices and meeting rooms.

Disabled WC in main foyer next to lift.

Bar

On two levels. Level access to ground floor. Ramped access to upper level and bar counter. Spacious, with moveable furniture.

Cafeteria

In dining hall (see below).

Chapel

The same age as the rest of the College (1965), not strictly part of Churchill College and rather far away from main building. Ramp to main entrance. Some alternative seating with armrests.

College offices

Offices on ground or first floors. Staff will meet you elsewhere if necessary. Lift provides easy access to most offices.

Common rooms

JCR and MCR on upper floor of main building, accessed via lift.

Computer facilities

All student rooms networked. Wifi currently linked to main College buildings, undergraduate accommodation and newer postgraduate accomodation.

Dining hall

Upper floor of main building. Large flight of stairs, or disabled access via lift. Smooth and very spacious, with moveable furniture. Open to any member of the University for self-service lunch or supper (see Catering Services).

Fellows' areas

SCR at ground level. Fellows' dining room on upper floor, via large flight of stairs or lift. Disabled toilet in SCR.

Gardens

Mostly level and accessible, with gravel paths.

Laundry

Several laundries. One has been adapted for wheelchair access.

Library

Level access to ground floor study spaces, and books in computer science, social sciences, law, and linguistics. Spiral staircase with handrail to gallery level with further study spaces and books in STEM subjects.

Large flight of stairs with poor handrails to upper floor with further study spaces, books in arts & humanities, computer room with adjustable-height workstation, photocopier, and librarian’s office.

High, rather narrow bookshelves. Staff happy to help, and offer a Click & Collect service delivering books to pigeon holes. Alternatively a proxy borrower can borrow books on your behalf. Please contact librarian for more information.

Porters' lodge and post room

Near ramped main entrance. Low level counter for wheelchair users. Post room is accessed by card and low level pigeonholes can be allocated if necessary.

Sport facilities

Sports fields, tennis courts, gym and pavilion on site. Gym and pavilion are three steps up, with no accessible changing facilities. New boathouse is accessible. JCR and MCR on upper floor of main building, accessed via lift.

Toilets

Unisex disabled toilets in main foyer, in SCR corridor and in study centre and music rooms.

Other

• Wolfson theatre (main lecture theatre) has lift access to upper level to an area for wheel chair users. Tiered seating and steps up to stage, but room for a wheelchair in audience. Arrange in advance.
• Study centre fully accessible.
• Music centre fully accessible.
• Archives centre accessible, with lift, but arrange in advance.
• Jock Colville hall accessed via a ramp.

Visual Impairments

Assistance dogs

Assistance dogs welcome.

Computer facilities

Special hardware or software for visually impaired users could be acquired if necessary, and has been in the past.

Large print, Braille and audio

Large print letters and information on request.

Library and magnification equipment

Large windows, and extra lights on desks (including some with adjustable brightness and colour spectrum). Accessible alternative formats of digital and print resources can be made. Please contact disability@lib.cam.ac.uk for more information. Magnifying glass available. Other text enlargement facilities can be acquired if needed.

Signs and wayfinding

Wayfinding system in place with some good, clear signs, and directional signing from main entrance points. A map is available, although it is rather small and hard to decipher.

Other

• Stairs are almost all unmarked, and many do not have handrails. Where handrails are in place, they are rather awkward and not continuous.
• Garden paths are dimly lit at night, and there are no barriers around the pond near the bar.

Hearing Impairments

Induction loops

Induction loops in Wolfson theatre, Chapel and in Bevin and Tizard meeting rooms.

Alarms

Sensory alarms available.

Other

• Two rooms have been adapted for use by deaf or hearing impaired students with sensory fire alarms.
• Furnishings around building and in bar are rather harsh, with mainly brick floors and walls. However, the College in general is fairly quiet.

Specific Learning Difficulties and Mental Health Issues

Arrangements for students with Specific Learning Difficulties are on an individual basis, in conjunction with the Accessibility and Disability Resource Centre. Discuss your needs with your tutor.

Other Useful Information

A programme of adaptations according to the recommendations of the recent access audit is ongoing. Many improvements have been made recently. Other adaptations can be made according to individual requirements - please discuss your needs in advance.