This is a blog post with information for guests who are attending our 10th anniversary celebration event on Wednesday 2nd April from 4pm-7pm at the HEART Centre in Headingley, Leeds.
Below, we have information on the schedule, parking, accessibility and rooms we are using.
Schedule and signing in
Here is a list of what’s happening on the day and when, including when our guest speakers will be talking:
- 4pm-4:15pm: Arrival and registration
- 4:15pm-4:20pm: Opening remarks and housekeeping – Angela Ellis, The Advonet Group’s Chief Executive
- 4:20pm-4:30pm: Brief history of Autism AIM’s journey over the past 10 years – Wendy Cork, The Advonet Group’s Deputy Chief Executive and founder of Autism AIM
- 4:30pm-4:40pm: Our Vision and the future – Owen Walker, Autism AIM Senior Manager
- 4:40pm-5:10pm: 30-minute break for refreshments, food and networking
- 5:10pm-5:40pm: Guest Speakers: Sharing partnership stories and successes – Stacey Leonard, Bradford Council; Dr Conor Davidson, Leeds Autism Diagnostic Service (LADS)
- 5:40pm-6:40pm: Activities and Networking – Networking room, videos playing on-screen, showcasing our resources, showing live feedback on your thoughts about AIM
- 6:40pm-7pm: Closing remarks and speeches
If you’re coming at the start of the event, please make sure you are here for 4pm. This will ensure that we’re able to have everything sorted in time for the opening remarks. Please note that you do not need to be there for the whole event.
When signing in, we will give you a lanyard, a card where you can write your name and what you would like to talk to others about and the option of saying whether you would like to be in photos and/or want to talk to other guests.
Activities
On the day, we will have a room set aside for activities. They will include a mural for colouring in and making your own additions, an interactive way of giving feedback about AIM and a chance to see some of the resources we have made over the years. This will all be on display in a room set aside just for activities.
In addition to that, there are some fun activities including puzzles inside the commemorative booklet we will be giving out to guests.
Room use
We have four rooms booked for the event:
- Shire Oak Hall – this is the biggest room (pictured), where all the talks will be. It is on the ground floor
- Buckingham Room – this is a quiet room on the ground floor, where we will have fidget toys. If you are feeling overloaded or stressed, this is a good place to be
- Beckett Room – this is for activities, including colouring in a large mural where you can make your own additions. It is on the ground floor
- Claremont Room – this is upstairs and set aside for networking. It can be accessed via a lift if needed
All rooms will be clearly signposted on the day. If you have any questions, please ask a member of AIM staff.
At the entrance, there will be a sign-in desk, where we will check you in. We will then direct you to a second desk, where you can pick up your lanyards and commemorative booklets.
Catering
We will have some free light snacks and drinks for guests. There won’t be enough for a full meal. There will be vegan, gluten-free and nut-free food and drink.
The HEART Centre’s café is on-site and will be selling a range of hot and cold drinks and refreshments.
Accessibility and safety
There is step-free access into the building. The HEART Centre has four accessible parking bays, although one of them has been reserved. There are also accessible toilets and a Changing Places toilet.
One room we are using is on the first floor. This can be accessed via a lift, which will be manned by a member of HEART Centre staff. The Buckingham Room on the ground floor will be used as a quiet room.
If you need help finding your way round the building, a member of our staff team should be available to support you.
At the start of the event, we will have information on things like where the rooms are located, as well as what to do in the event of a fire alarm and where to go for smoking and/or vaping.
Getting there: Parking
There is very limited parking available at the HEART Centre. The on-site car park has 12 parking bays, including four for disabled drivers with a blue badge (one of which is already reserved). However, there are also some nearby car parks in Headingley that charge low fees:
- The Headingley Taps pub has a car park outside, located on North Lane. Parking is free for the first hour, then £1 per hour after that.
- On St Anne’s Road, on the corner with Otley Road, there is a small car park. It costs £3 to use for two hours and £4.80 for four hours.
- There is also a multi-storey car park at the former Arndale Centre on Otley Road. However, this is mainly for shoppers.
If going by car and you know someone else who is also attending, to save parking spaces, it might be worth sharing a car going there and back.
Getting there: Public transport
The venue is close to Otley Road, where the following buses go to and from Leeds City Centre:
- 1, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28 and X84 going from the City Centre, stopping at Otley Road near St Michael’s Church
- 1, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28 and X84 going to the City Centre, stopping at Otley Road opposite the former Arndale Centre, where you will see Sainsbury’s
- 1, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27 and 28 going towards the City Centre, stopping outside the Sainsbury’s on Otley Road
- 22, 23, 24, 25, 27 and 28 going towards the City Centre, stopping opposite St Michael’s Church on Otley Road
- The 91 going in either direction on North Lane, going to and from Halton Moor and Pudsey Bus Station – this route has roughly one service either way every hour or so
From all the above services and bus stops, the HEART Centre is just a short walk away.
Getting there: Walking from car parks
If parking at the Headingley Taps, you can get to the HEART Centre by walking out of the car park entrance, turning right onto North Lane, turning right again onto the pavement in between Get Baked and the Head of Steam pub and walking through that street. Then, walk onto Grunberg Street and then turn left onto Bennett Road, where you will see the venue.
Another way you can get there from the Headingley Taps car park is by turning right from the exit, then walking up North Lane until you get to Otley Road. Turn right and walk down Otley Road until you get to Oasis Hair and Beauty. From there, turn right onto Bennett Road, going through the bollards. The venue will be on your left.
If walking from St Anne’s car park or Otley Road, walk down there until you get to Oasis Hair and Beauty. Then, turn right onto Bennett Road, going through the bollards. The venue will be on your left.
