Memorandum from the Visitor Services Manager,
Welsh Assembly
(in response to a letter from the Clerk
of the Administration Sub-Committee)
When was your visitor centre established or due
to be established?
The Visitor Centre was established in May 2001.
Was the visitor centre a new or separate building
or was existing accommodation used?
The Visitor Centre is based in a listed building
approximately 200 yards from the original Assembly, 50 yards from
the new Senedd.
What is the scale of your Centre in m2?
The exhibition hall is approximately 270m2.
There are also two rooms allocated to the Education team on a
different level.
What are its main target audiences:
— general public of your country;
— other (please specify)?
All of the above, we provide an education programme
for schools and guided tours for anyone that wishes to book. We
also have "drop in "visitors to the Exhibition.
What are the main aims of your visitor centre
and how do you measure how well you meet these aims?
The main aim is to engage the people of Wales,
and the wider world, by enhancing the level of public knowledge
of, and involvement with, the National Assembly for Wales, and
ensuring that they have a positive experience in their dealings
with the Assembly Parliamentary Service.
We measure this objective through seeking feedback.
What facilities does it contain:
— exhibition area. If so, how large?
What are its main themes? The theme is mainly a detailed explanation
of the Assembly's role and responsibilities.
— meeting rooms. If so, how many?
One
— interactive displays? Yes
but in desperate need of updating. The display consists of touch
screens and Internet access PCs.
— toilets: Yes including a disabled
toilet.
— areas specifically for school
visits Yes
— areas for Members of Parliament
to receive their constituents No
— other (eg for the media)?
Offices for Public Information and Education Branch staff.
Is there a link to the main Parliamentary building?
No
Does the public have to go through the Centre
to reach the Parliament?
No
How many staff does the Centre have?
— information/welcome staff and
guides; approximately five but these staff have duties elsewhere.
The guides start the tours in the Exhibition and then go on to
the Senedd.
— technical (eg IT) staff; None
based at the Centre.
— support staff (eg cleaners).
None based at the Centre.
How many of the staff are exclusive to the Centre,
or do some have duties elsewhere?
Most of the staff have duties in the other Assembly
buildings.
How much did the Centre cost to establish?
The cost of the building is not available, but
the exhibition alone cost approximately £100,000.
What is its annual running cost?
It is difficult to establish a true running
cost as the costs are met from different budgets.
Have you undertaken any research or surveys of
visitors to get their views of the visitor centre?
Feedback sheets are issued to each visitor and
also to pre booked group leaders.
Do you advertise your visitor centre, for example
on the Internet, through the media or by leaflets or posters?
We publish details of the Visitor Centre on
the internet and leaflets but we don't advertise in the press
or media.
The details can be found on the Public Information
section of the website. www.walesgov.uk.
What do you think are the key things that make
your visitor centre successful?
It is located in Cardiff Bay in a 100 year old
listed building. This building is used as a backdrop for the Welsh
news and is a well known landmark. This arouses the interest of
people passing by as well as visitors to the Bay who have seen
the building on TV or on publications.
12 October 2006
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