Safeguarding and accessibility

Safeguarding

PRONI is committed to providing a safe environment for all children and vulnerable groups – including adults at risk of harm.  Whilst the primary responsibility for safeguarding children or vulnerable groups rests with the supervising adult, PRONI acknowledges the duty of care to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and vulnerable groups and is committed to ensuring that PRONI safeguarding practice reflects current statutory responsibilities, government guidance and best practice.

PRONI safeguarding practice is informed by DfC Children and Adult Safeguarding Guidance and the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (NI) Order 2007, as amended by the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012.

If you have a concern about yourself or another child or adult while visiting PRONI, speak to a member of PRONI staff.

Full access to all public areas

PRONI provide full access to all public areas.  There is a lift to upper floors and the public areas of the building  are wheelchair-friendly.  There are also a range of facilities in the reading and search rooms to help you with your research.

Remember that if you are visiting with a personal assistant to do research, both of you will need to produce photographic ID if you wish to register as PRONI visitors and look at original records.  Find out more about preparing for a visit and registration.

If you have any problems or questions during your visit to PRONI, ask a member of staff for help.

Travelling to PRONI

See Getting to PRONI and Opening Hours for general information about travelling to PRONI.

Car parking for disabled visitors

There are two disabled parking bays outside the PRONI building. If you're using a Satnav to travel to PRONI, use the postcode BT3 9HQ (Titanic Boulevard). The bays are available on a first-come, first-served basis.  Make sure your blue badge is displayed in your vehicle.

Other parking bays are available outside the PRONI building, but these are not free to blue badge holders. Make sure that you pay and display if parking in these bays.

By rail

Titanic Quarter Station is the closest train station to PRONI, however there is only footbridge access onto the Sydenham Road. The station has access to the Bangor direction platform via footbridge.  A ramp provides access to the Belfast platform but no lifts are available. 

Belfast Central Station is a fully staffed station with a number of accessibility features including access around all facilities for wheelchair users and a hearing loop system. Belfast Central Station is a ten-minute taxi/car journey from PRONI.

When leaving PRONI you can ask staff at the Reception desk to call you a taxi.

By bus

From Belfast City centre at Donegall Square North take Metro 26, 26B or 26C route. Alight at the Premier Inn just after passing the SSE Arena, Belfast. The PRONI building is directly across the road, and is not situated on a road which has a steep gradient.

All buses on these routes are now low-floor buses (wheelchair accessible).

For further information on bus or rail travel within Northern Ireland and for timetables, visit the Translink website.

Entrances and getting around

The front entrance to PRONI is accessible to people who use wheelchairs. A wheelchair ramp is available from street level to the front door of PRONI. Touchpad-operated power doors are at the front entrance.

Mobility difficulties

PRONI is a large building, so if you have mobility difficulties, or are using crutches, you may wish to bring someone to assist you. Remember that both you and your assistant will need to produce photographic ID if you wish to register as PRONI visitors and look at original records.

Site facilities and accessibility

The following facilities are available in the PRONI building:

Public areas of PRONI:

A Loop system (for hearing aids) is in operation at:

• Reception
• Search room help desk
• Issue Desk/Collection point
• Lecture theatre

PRONI provides information about its records and services in a suitable format such as large print, audio, and others if you ask.

PRONI is a guide/ hearing dog friendly building. Tell a member of staff if a guide/ hearing dog is in the public areas. PRONI can provide bowls for water if needed.

Evacuation chairs are in place in the emergency exit stairwells in the case of an emergency.  A number of staff are trained in the use of the evacuation chairs.

Search Room facilities:

Two tables are available which can be raised and lowered for accessibility.

A document ordering computer is available which has a keyboard with outsized letters and characters.

Internet browser settings can be adjusted on all of the internet linked PCs to zoom/enlarge the text on screen.

A digital microfilm reader, which connects to an internet computer is situated beside the help desk – this can increase the font size and improve the clarity of poor quality microfilms.

A magnifying glass is available from the help desk.

Reading Room facilities:

Two tables are available which can be raised/lowered for accessibility.

A magnifying glass is available from the issue desk.

Ground floor facilities:

There are male and female wheelchair accessible toilets on the ground floor of the PRONI building. These are located opposite the PRONI Reception desk.

The PRONI Café is situated on the ground floor. Tables and chairs in the restaurant are movable.