Larne Leisure Centre - Autism guide

My Visit to

Larne Leisure Centre

AUTISM FRIENDLY MEA 1 | My Visit to Larne Leisure Centre

Welcome to Larne Leisure Centre Everyone feels different when visiting a new place or trying something new. There are new sounds, smells and you may not know what to expect.

This guide will help you get ready for your trip. It will: • Tell you how to get to and enter Larne Leisure Centre • Introduce you to some of the people who work here • Explain how to find your way around • Show you some of the things that you can do when you visit.

We are here to help This is our Autism Champion. You can ask him, or any of the staff in this uniform, for help while you are with us.

Robert Currie MEActive Coach

1 | My Visit to Larne Leisure Centre

Help Keep #OurMEA Safe

Since the Covid-19 pandemic began, we have all had to make adjustments to what we do in public places.

If government guidelines allow, we will keep this leisure centre open so that people can keep fit and active. However, you may still have to keep 2m social distance, wash your hands regularly, and wear a face mask unless you are exempt.

We expect these rules to be in place for a longer time. It might be annoying, or it might feel strange, but it also means you can relax in the knowledge that we are making the leisure centre as safe as we can for everyone to enjoy.

20 SECS

Wash hands

Cover face

Thank you for your cooperation.

Make space

2 | My Visit to Larne Leisure Centre

Getting to Larne Leisure Centre

Victoria Road

Larne Leisure Centre

Glenarm Road

Tower Road Sandy Bay Playing Fields

Curran Road

Main Road

Friends’ Goodwill Memorial

Circular Road

Bay Road

Coastguard Road The Harbour Highway

Fleet Street

Bank Road

Larne Leisure Centre can be accessed via bus, car and by foot. Larne train station is a 15-minute walk from the entrance of the building.

Whether arriving by car or foot the centre is surrounded by an extensive car park, both to the front and back of the centre.

On the other side, you can enjoy the Larne Promenade along the sea front.

3 | My Visit to Larne Leisure Centre

Arriving at Larne Leisure Centre

This is the entrance that will take you into Larne Leisure Centre.

When you enter you will be greeted by one of our staff at the Reception desk, where you can purchase your ticket for your leisure activity session. This area can be become noisy and busy due to its central location beside the entrance/exit. The Reception staff can point you in the right direction for where you want to go.

4 | My Visit to Larne Leisure Centre

Finding Your Way Around LEVEL ONE Entrance, reception, café, toilets, changing rooms, swimming pools, health suite, sports hall, weights room, squash court, The Studio and McNeill Theatre.

Terrace Cafe Prom

Aerobics Squash Room Court

Corridor

Sports Hall Male Changing

Lifts

Weights Room

Stairs

Corridor

McNeill Theatre

Corridor

Main Pool

Spa

Pool Showers, Lockers & Changing area

Reception Entrance

5 | My Visit to Larne Leisure Centre

Male Showers

Minor Pool

Finding Your Way Around LEVEL TWO Toilets, pool spectator area, fitness suite and gallery access to McNeill Theatre.

Stairs

Stairs

Squash Office Office 1 2 Court Sports Hall

Corridor

Main Pool McNeill Theatre

Female Male WC WC

St

ai

rs

Corridor

Reception

6 | My Visit to Larne Leisure Centre

Cardio Room

The Reception Area LEVEL ONE

You might need to check in or buy a ticket for an activity. At busy times, there may be a queue.

Our staff are friendly and can help you with your visit.

From the Reception area, you will go to a different area of the centre depending on what activity you are going to take part in.

You can use stairs, lifts or the ramp if you need to get to Level Two. To help you navigate around the building, there are directional signs with arrows to help guide you to where you want to go. These highlight the various leisure areas and toilets available.

7 | My Visit to Larne Leisure Centre

The Reception Area LEVEL ONE

Continuing right will lead you to • Swimming pools and changing area • Pool spectator area via stairs • Health suite

8 | My Visit to Larne Leisure Centre

Continuing left will lead you to • Fitness suite • Sports hall • Weights room • Squash court • Exercise Studio • McNeill Theatre • Prom Cafe

Swimming Changing Area LEVEL ONE

To the right of the Reception desk, follow the signs that lead you to the swimming pool changing rooms.

This area can be noisy if it is busy, with lots of people talking, using hairdryers and banging doors.

Staff can be washing the floors to keep it clean. Sometimes there can be a strong smell of water and cleaning chemicals.

There are male, female, disability and family/group changing facilities.

9 | My Visit to Larne Leisure Centre

Swimming Pool Area LEVEL ONE

This is the swimming pool area.

There are two pools - a learner pool and a main pool.

There can be a strong smell of water and chemicals that help keep the area clean.

It is a great place to have fun, but it can be busy and full of laughter, splashing, the sound of water running over the edge of the pool, and loud public announcements.

10 | My Visit to Larne Leisure Centre

There are lifeguards on duty to keep everyone safe. Sometimes they can blow a whistle to get a swimmer’s attention.

There are also rules to follow to make sure no one slips, or gets into trouble in the water. These are on the next page.

Swimming pool rules

4

We hope that enjoy your swimming experience and ask that you follow our rules:

11 | My Visit to Larne Leisure Centre

Other Things To Do On Level One LEVEL ONE

Squash court You can play squash in our squash court. Squash courts may have loud echo from the ball bouncing and participants shouting.

12 | My Visit to Larne Leisure Centre

Exercise Studio You can take an exercise class in our Exercise Studio. This could be a spin class, dancing or martial arts. There may be loud music being played during spin classes.

Sports Hall/McNeill Theatre LEVEL ONE

This is our main hall where you can play different sports such as badminton, table-tennis, aerobics and football. If there are a lot of people participating, it can be noisy. But it is a great space to have fun and get active with others.

The McNeill Theatre is a multi-purpose space, designed to cater for indoor sports as well as events such as ballet, musicals, plays, variety shows and concerts.

The venue has retractable theatre seating which accommodates 274 people and looks onto the stage area fully equipped with lighting for any performance. Lighting and sound is operated from a separate control room overlooking the theatre in the balcony area – look up to see it.

13 | My Visit to Larne Leisure Centre

The Prom Café LEVEL ONE

The Prom Café is situated on Level One and can be accessed by either the leisure centre or via a separate entrance from the promenade which is around the back of the leisure centre.

The café has large windows looking out onto the Irish Sea and Chaine Memorial Tower so you can watch the boats and ferries sail by.

Most of the food served is prepared using fresh, locally sourced ingredients. As well as having a set menu, they have a range of different daily specials for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner.

There is a separate children’s menu.

You can either pop into the café or give them a call for more information or to book a table.

14 | My Visit to Larne Leisure Centre

The Prom Café LEVEL ONE

They also have an outdoor patio area where you can eat, and any pet dogs can enjoy a bowl of water.

The café is very popular with local walkers and leisure centre users. It can be busy, noisy and can have strong cooking smells.

15 | My Visit to Larne Leisure Centre

Getting to Level Two LEVEL TWO

Stairs, ramp or a lift can be used to access the fitness suite and sports hall spectator viewing area on Level Two.

16 | My Visit to Larne Leisure Centre

Fitness Suite LEVEL TWO

This is the entrance to the fitness suite. You can get here by taking the stairs or the lift.

The weights room and fitness suite has a lot of equipment where you can work out.

To help people keep motivated, there is loud music playing.

We run quiet sessions where there is no music playing.

There might be other users you don’t know.

Please contact the centre if you would like to book in for an induction to the fitness suite.

17 | My Visit to Larne Leisure Centre

Useful Information We are committed to welcoming everyone to Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s facilities.

As well as producing this guide, we have signage in place around the building to help people with a range of needs find their way around.

We also run accessible classes and sessions for individuals with additional needs or disabilities, and for those who would prefer a quieter time to enjoy the centre.

For more details, please ask a member of staff.

Fire alarms If a fire alarm sounds, please make your way to the nearest fire exit. Staff will be there to help you.

18 | My Visit to Larne Leisure Centre

Opening/Closing Times Monday

8am-10pm

Tuesday

8.30am-10pm

Wednesday

8am-10pm

Thursday

8.30am-10pm

Friday

8am-10pm

Saturday

9am-5pm

Sunday

10am-5pm

These are our normal operating hours. To check if they are different due to Covid-19, please visit our website.

Contact Details Larne Leisure Centre 28 Tower Rd, Larne BT40 1AB T: 028 2826 2497 E: info@larneleisurecentre.com www.midandeastantrim.gov.uk/LarneLeisureCentre If you have any problems or issues, please speak to a member of staff who will be glad to help you. Staff will be wearing our branded leisurewear.

19 | My Visit to Larne Leisure Centre

Thank you for reading our guide.

We are looking forward to seeing you soon.

During your visit to Larne Leisure Centre if you have any questions about ANY part of our facilities or your experience there, please ask to speak to either the Duty Manager or one of the Autism Champions, who are pictured in the front of this guide.

All staff will be able to assist you while in the building or using any of the facilities if required.

If you have any suggestions for improvement, again please ask to speak to either the Duty Manager or one of the Autism Champions.

We hope this guide helps you prepare for your visit, helps you find your way around during your visit and makes it easier for you to enjoy your time with us

AUTISM FRIENDLY MEA 20 | My Visit to Larne Leisure Centre