We welcome all people over 18 regardless of background, disability, race, religion, gender or sexuality. Discrimination on any grounds will not be tolerated at our events.
Arrangements can be made to meet a crew member(s) before the event – please message us to discuss your needs. We have an event phone you can contact on the day of our events for help with finding us, accessing the space, etc. Call or text 07990496691, please note this phone is only active on event days.
We are aware that unfortunately our space is not accessible to all. We are committed to making this space easier to exist in for disabled and neurodivergent people by accommodating in whatever ways we can – if there is something we haven’t considered yet, please let us know, as we would love to implement it if possible. As a kinky event which rents our space, our venue options are severely limited, and whilst not accessible, Dance Studio Leeds have been a long standing partner who supports us in what we do – a truly rare find in the UK. That being said, we are keeping an eye out for a more accessible space we could use.
Tying and being tied
There are many misconceptions about who can tie and be tied. You might have heard or even been outright told that fat people can’t be tied or suspended, or that being disabled means you can’t participate. That is not true. Most people can tie and be tied, and we will do our best to support your journey in whatever way we can. Our workshops will suggest ways to adapt ties to the body of the person in rope, so that the tie works best for them. We can also suggest ways to adapt your tying style to suit your needs, and if we can’t fully help, we should be able to put you in touch with someone who can.
If tying in a pair is not accessible to you, you may wish to consider whether self-tying or tying in a group of three of more might be more appropriate for your situation.
Most of our crew is disabled and/or neurodivergent, and we are lucky to know a wide range of people who engage in rope, including blind riggers, rope bottoms with severe sensory issues and people who tie with their toes. That being said, we are not medical professionals, and your doctor will be better positioned to advise on what activities are safe for you and your body.
Getting here
We host our events at The Dance Studio Leeds, Mabgate Mills, Macaulay Street, Leeds LS9 7SW.
The venue is approximately 1.1 mile, or 23 min walk away from the Leeds train station with an overall uphill elevation of 52ft and downhill elevation of 62ft. Please note that the uphill elevation is mostly concentrated along a single 300ft interval.
There are parking spaces inside the courtyard as well as free street parking right outside. There are no dedicated disabled parking spaces and all are filled on a first come, first served basis, but some of the spaces inside the courtyard come with extra free space on one side of them.
There are no dedicated bicycle parking spaces.
The bus stopping nearest is the 42, with bus stops on Lincoln Green Road 1-2 min walk away from the venue depending which direction you’re coming from. The area is also serviced by other buses, with bus stops 7-10 min walk away at average speed. You can use Google Maps to find out more. Bus fares vary by operator. First Bus is the most common operator and tickets purchased through their app are fixed price. A single from anywhere in the city to the venue area costs £2 and a day ticket is £5.20 (no return tickets are available). Single tickets purchased on the bus might be cheaper or more expensive depending on the distance travelled. Card and cash are accepted on buses.
The courtyard is down a moderate slope, meaning that on your way out you will need to briefly walk uphill.
Our events take place in two different studios. Both are accessed through the courtyard, but through different doors. For studio-specific accessibility information, please see the relevant documents.
Carers
If you require a carer to attend with you, they are welcome at no extra cost. We require no documentation or identification to prove their status.
Access for D/deaf, hard of hearing and sound sensitive people
If you have an interpreter who you’d like to come with you, they are welcome at no extra cost. We do not currently know any BSL interpreters who are confident at interpreting a rope workshop, but if you know one and would like our support with cost please get in touch.
ROH – workshop events
We have two different workshops running alongside each other in the same room in the first half or the day, so depending on the numbers attending this can get noisy, although we do try to manage noise levels.
RopeSpace – play events
There is atmospheric music playing in the background and conversation is kept to a very low noise level. Please speak to a crew member if you would like the music volume adjusted or the music changed.
Access for Blind, visually impaired and light-sensitive people
Large parts of our workshops are based on demonstration, but please speak to us if you would benefit from everything being described in detail and we can ensure to do so.
Please refer to the guidance on individual studio spaces for information on light levels and types.
Access for Autistic, mentally ill and otherwise neurodivergent people
Please refer to the guidance on individual studio spaces for information on light, noise and quiet spaces, as well as the noise guidance above.
Please feel free to bring and use anything which might make your experience with us more accessible and enjoyable. This includes but is not limited to stim toys, sensory tools and augmented or alternative communication devices like iPads and letter boards. We welcome the use of safety/particulate masks.
You’re welcome to be yourself within our space and you’re not expected to sit through demonstrations if you find that difficult. You can move about and leave and come back as you wish, though please be aware that we will have limited capacity to recap any parts which you have missed. There are two breaks throughout the day, roughly 15min each.
We do however need to protect all of our attendees, so please familiarise yourself with our event etiquette before attending and adhere to it at all times.
We are unlikely to be touching on commonly delicate subjects, but if you feel like you might require a content warning for something specific please do get in touch. Please refer to our event listings for the content of our workshops and message us for further details.
Other access information
Sockets are available if you need to charge your electronic devices.
If you need any additional information, or have any questions or concerns please use the contact box on the main page or email us at ropeofficehours@gmail.com and we will respond as soon as we can. We are also more than happy to make any adjustments we realistically can so please do get in touch if there is anything we can do to make your time with us easier, or possible for that matter.
If you feel like there is something that is not included in this guide but should be, please message us and we will work on adding that information.
This writing was put together by ROH crew with help from Ellen Murray’s Accessibility guide and disabled attendees.
Last updated 10/02/2023