Information about Gateshead civic centre for people with autism
Public access to the civic centre is 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 4.30pm Friday.
Appointments can be arranged in advance by contacting the relevant team, getting in touch online or call 0191 433 3000.
When attending your appointment you should come to the main reception, unless the person you're going to meet has indicated that you should come to an alternative location.
The civic centre is a five minute walk from Gateshead bus and metro station, and the town centre.
A public car park entered from Arthur Street can be used - you need to buy a ticket to park here. Disabled parking spaces are available.
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When you arrive
If you have an appointment you should come to the entrance indicated by the person you're going to meet. If that entrance is the northwest pavilion on Regent Street then this is fully carpeted and has standard height ceilings.
The main reception has half carpeted and half tiled flooring so it can be a little noisy with the echo of footsteps.
You can ask to see an Autism Supporters who will provide you with assistance if you need it while you are at the civic centre.
The quiet room
The civic centre should be quiet during your visit but you can ask to use the Quiet Room.
This is a dedicated space where you can sit and rest in peace and quiet. One of our team will escort you to the Quiet Room. If you need the Quiet Room from the NW pavillion reception then you will have to go along a section of corridor, approximately 25m long that is quite small.
The Quiet Room may be used by others too, so if you want to book the room in advance or find that you need to use it during a visit, speak to one of our team who will help you.
About the building and its facilities
The civic centre is a three-storey building. The atrium flooring is half carpeted, half tiled, so can be quite noisy with the echo of footsteps.
It has two lifts, corridors and walkways that are wide enough for wheelchair users.
There are hearing induction loops in several meeting rooms.
An accessible toilet is on the ground floor, with further toilets on the first and second floors available to visitors with appointments.
The main reception area can be busy with visitors. Our peak times tend to be in the mornings. Our quietest times tend to be after 2pm.
Sensory issues
Fire alarms: If a fire alarm sounds you must leave the building immediately following the fire exit signs.
Safety alarm: Social Care meeting rooms are fitted with safety alarms - if these go off while you are attending a meeting you do not have to leave the building and a member of staff will switch this off after two minutes.
Hand dryers: if you prefer not to use the hand dryers in the toilets, please ask a member of staff for a hand towel.
How the council works
To find out more about the council, for example its structure, meetings, councillors please visit our Council and Democracy webpages.