Visiting intu Merry Hill A detailed autism friendly guide
Contents Section 1 The guide 3 Section 2 Visiting times 4 Section 3 Planning your trip 6 Section 4 Parking and transport 7 Section 5 How do I find the toilets? 9 Section 6 Queuing 10 Section 7 What you can do at intu Merry Hill? 11 Section 8 A map of intu Merry Hill 12 Section 9 Dining at intu Merry Hill 16 Section 10 How can intu Merry Hill support you? 18 Section 11 What if something goes wrong? 19 1
Hello Welcome to intu Merry Hill, we hope you enjoy your shopping and leisure trip to the centre. This guide will support you or the person you are with from the early stage of planning a visit to arrival and also let you know what to do in an emergency. Throughout your visit there will be friendly, trained staff on hand should you require our help. If you wish to talk to someone at the centre our customer service team will be able to assist. Our desk is shown on the map within the booklet (see pages 12-15). This guide has been produced in conjunction with the Dudley Autistic Support Group; they provide a wide range of high quality, specialist, personalised care and educational support to disabled people and their families. Thank you and have fun. Dan Murphy General manager 2
Section 1 - The guide This guide is to inform our customers with autism and their parents or carers. This will help our customers know about the centre and to help them have an enjoyable visit. In addition, we have created an easy to read visual guide of intu Merry Hill specifically for individuals with autism spectrum conditions (ASC). This booklet can also be downloaded via our website at: www.intu.co.uk/merryhill There is also a list of stores and restaurants on our website at: www.intu.co.uk/merryhill/stores We hope you enjoy your visit. 3
Section 2 - Visiting times We have identified intu Merry Hill's quietest and busiest times so you can you can pick the best time for your visit. Shopping opening times Monday to Friday: Saturday: Sunday: Bank holidays: 9am 9pm 9am 7pm 11am 5pm 10am 6pm Quietest times in the centre * Sunday to Wednesday: 9am 11am Busiest times Thursday to Saturday *These times are based on an average week and can vary, particularly around Christmas, bank holidays and school holidays. 4
Leisure Take a break from all that retail therapy with a trip to the beautiful canal just across the road from intu Merry Hill. This is also a great place to eat a packed lunch. 5
Section 3 - Planning your trip intu Merry Hill website Our website has all our recent news, such as changes to opening times, shop locations, details of up and coming events and offers. The list of events may help you decide when it is best to visit and prepare you, or the person you are visiting with, for changes. Visit: www.intu.co.uk/merryhill/whatson Social media You can also see what s going on at the centre via our social media channels. Like us on Facebook at intu Merry Hill or follow us on Twitter @intumerryhill Free wifi Free wifi is available throughout intu Merry Hill. Please search for the intu Merry Hill free wifi connection in your mobile device settings. 6
Section 4 - Parking and transport By bus We have an on-site bus station with almost 100 local and regional buses passing through the depot every hour. The express X10 provides a direct link from Birmingham. Information on all the bus routes is available on the intu Merry Hill website. Car We have 6 on site car parks, providing 10,000 free parking spaces including disabled and parent. Taxi We have an on-site taxi rank located next to the Bus Station. Train We have excellent bus links to a range of local train stations for onward rail links. 7
Section 4 - Parking and transport Cycling intu Merry Hill is served by local cycle routes. There is a cycle shelter by the Bus Station. Walk A simple, free and easy way to get more active, lose weight and become healthier. Footways are well lit, have good CCTV coverage and directional signage. Electric vehicles We have 4 EV charging points on site which are all free to use for a greener form of travel. For full details on traveling to the centre, please visit: intu.co.uk/merryhill/centre-information/how-to-find-us 8
Section 5 - How do I find the toilets? Our clean, spacious toilets (and accessible toilets) can be found by: Primark Eat Central Wetherspoons Post Office Some of the wheelchair accessible toilets require a RADAR key to access before use. All our security staff carry a RADAR key, and will be happy to assist people who require access. 9
Section 6 - Queuing We understand that queuing can be a stressful activity for people with autism. To help you avoid queuing as much as possible, we have a few suggestions: Visit us at quieter times (see page 4 for more information) Try our Click and Collect service. You can buy online at home from our website and collect from Centre Management Suite reception desk located near the post office * during your visit and then enjoy the rest of what our centre has to offer. * For full details on Click and Collect, visit our website: www.intu.co.uk/merryhill/centre-information/click-collect 10
Section 7 - What can you do at intu Merry Hill? Shopping is one of the main activities at intu Merry Hill. To help you, or the person you are with, navigate around the shops here are three pictures of large stores in the centre that you can use as a signpost. River Island Topshop JD 11
Section 8 - A map of intu Merry Hill Upper mall Key to maps Lifts Free Parking Stairs Free mobile charging station Escalator Toilets Cycle Parking Baby Changing Cash Dispenser Post Box Kids play areas and family events Customer Services MULTI STOREY CAR PARK Event Area Bus Station/ Taxi Rank Free Wi-Fi can be accessed everywhere in the centre Home & Café Revive Entrance Amazon Lockers Electric Vehicle charging points Services available at the customer services desk Gift Card First Aid Lost Property Fun Buggies 12
Womenswear & Food including restaurant Food Court i Customer Services Desk 13
Section 8 - A map of intu Merry Hill Lower mall Key to maps Lifts Stairs Free Parking Free mobile charging station MULTI STOREY CAR PARK Escalator Toilets Menswear Cycle Parking Baby Changing Cash Dispenser Kids play areas and family events Post Box Customer Services Event Area Bus Station/ Taxi Rank Free Wi-Fi can be accessed everywhere in the centre Entrance Amazon Lockers Electric Vehicle charging points Services available at the customer services desk Gift Card First Aid Lost Property Fun Buggies 14
Customer Services Desk Womenswear & Kidswear Customer Services Desk Womenswear & Kidswear Key to Maps Lifts E Event Area Bus Station/ Fountain Square Taxi Rank Entrance M Stairs Escalators Meeting Point Cycle Racks Lower Level Concierge Desk Upper Level Eat Central Free Parking Mobile charging station Telephones Toilets including facilities for disabled customers and baby changing Cash Machine Baby Changing/ Feeding Room WiFi WiFi Kids Play areas and family events Post/ Letter Box Pharmacies Post Office Concierge Where you will find the following services Store Directions Gift Cards First Aid Lost Property Kiddy Cars Little Shopper Pushchair Hire Hire Menswear Shop Mobility Interpreter Service TO CRADLEY HEATH M5 JCT 4 Retail park i TO CRADLEY HEATH M5 JCT 4 DUDLEY STATION DRIVE THE BOULEVARD TIMES SQ AVE DUDLEY STATION DRIVE THE BOULEVARD THE BOULEVARD TIMES SQ AVE TIMES SQ AVE CANA L ASDA THE BOULEVARD THE EMBANKMENT NEXT TIMES SQ AVE CANA L ASDA THE EMBANKMENT NEXT MADISON AVE PRIMARK M&S A4036 PRIMARK M&S DEBENHAMS DEBENHAMS THE EMBANKMENT TO BRIERLEY HILL THE EMBANKMENT CENTRAL WAY PEDMORE ROAD TO BRIERLEY HILL CENTRAL WAY LEVEL STREET LEVEL STREET LEVEL STREET LEVEL STREET COPTHORNE HOTEL BREWERS WHARF PUB TO WATERFRONT BARS, RESTAURANTS AND OFFICE COMPLEX A4036 15 COPTHORNE HOTEL BREWERS WHARF PUB TO WATERFRONT BARS, RESTAURANTS AND OFFICE COMPLEX TO DUDLEY M5 JCT 2 MADISON AVE
Section 9 - Dining at intu Merry Hill There are various restaurants around the centre in addition to Eat Central which has lots of choice when it comes to dining, from eating in to take away. However, please note this area of the centre is expected to be very busy and noisy at peak times of day and peak periods. A full list of our restaurants can found on our website at: www.intu.co.uk/merryhill/restaurants 16
Section 9 - Dining at intu Merry Hill If you do bring your own food we have seating on the malls. If you re visiting as a large group, we can provide an area in our large conference room to eat, however this does depend on availability. Please pre-book with reception by calling 01384 487 960 17
Section 10 - How can intu Merry Hill support you? Autism awareness card and wristband To support you or the person you are visiting with, we have created our own autism awareness card and wristband in conjunction with the Dudley Autistic Support Group. You can download the card from our website or pick up a card and wristband at our customer service desk. The autism awareness cards are to be used at your discretion, when and if an occasion presents itself and where you wish to inform staff, or other shoppers, that you/your companion has autism, quickly and discreetly. Our autism awareness wristbands are orange. If an emergency occurs, the responding member of staff will be able to quickly and accurately identify that you, or the person you are with, has autism and can therefore support you appropriately. The bands have been created to be worn at your discretion and for your reassurance. All intu Merry Hill staff have received autism awareness training. Quiet room If you do need some quiet time we have a quiet room located near Eat Central toilets to use as you please. 18
Section 11 - What if something goes wrong? If you need support during your visit to intu Merry Hill please call our customer service team on 01384 571 053 or 01384 487 978. Alternatively, approach a member of staff who will be happy to assist. If you have chosen to wear our wristband or carry our card, please show our staff during an emergency and they will be able to offer you additional support. Our customer service team Our security team Our environmental services team 19
Many thanks to the Dudley Autistic Support Group who helped create this guide. 20
www.facebook.com/intumerryhill www.youtube.com/user/intumerryhill @intumerryhill www.intu.co.uk/merryhill 01384 487 960 2017 intu properties plc