DISEASE MITIGATION POLICY AT NOVACON
It has become increasingly clear that even though things have improved since the height of the pandemic, an awareness of the potential for the spread of infectious disease in convention spaces needs to be always considered.
At this point in time, as a minimum, we would ask that:
- All attending members are fully vaccinated against Covid where possible.
- We request members to take a lateral flow test prior to attending convention.
- If you have any symptoms of an infectious respiratory infection, please do not attend the convention. If you take ill during the convention, please consider isolating yourself from other attendees.
- Masks will NOT be mandatory and will be the personal choice of individuals. We will NOT be asking people to wear them in programme items.
- Please do not host or attend room parties.
Other specific measures may be announced nearer the convention, and the committee will continue to monitor things. We will keep members up to date with any other proposed restrictions.
ACCESSIBILITY POLICY
We commit to making our convention as accessible as possible for our members. If you have any access needs that are not answered below or you feel we may not have considered, please contact chair@novacon.uk
The Palace Hotel is suitable for wheelchairs and scooters. Ramp access is gained through a secondary entrance at the far left of the main entrance, at the end of the car park past the restaurant. There is ample parking for high-sided and accessibility vehicles. We recommend parking these in the area of the car park next to the Dovedale restaurant to be close to the ramp entrance.
The convention areas are all on the ground floor. This area is flat, and wheelchair/scooter accessible.
We will provide accessible seating at the front of the programme rooms and leave space for wheelchairs. All in-person social areas will have seating provided. Where the programme room layout is banquet style, we will ensure an accessible walkway is adhered to.
Accessible hotel rooms are available to book. Rather than calling the main booking line, we recommend calling the hotel direct on 01298 767015 to communicate any specific access needs.
There is a wheelchair accessible lift which goes to the 1st and 2nd floors, but not the mezzanine floor. We would remind all attendees that not all disabilities are visible, please do not ask someone why they are using the lift or suggest that they should not. We do not use the mezzanine floor as a convention space, but it is important to let the hotel know for your room booking if you are unable to stay on the mezzanine floor.
We recognise that not all disabilities are visible, and we do not require proof of any access needs. We encourage our attendees to make their needs known to the committee if any help is required.
Wider wheelchair accessibility in Buxton – The path down to the high street from the main hotel entrance has several steps, so we recommend exiting the hotel to the left and joining the pavement onto Palace Road, then Station Road, where there is step free access.
Hearing access
We will ensure that microphones are provided for our panel items. Panellists will be invited to remove any covid masks while on the stage to ensure that voices are not obscured.
Food & Alcohol
Novacon hosts a Banquet on Sunday evening. This is a ticketed event which is not provided as part of the membership. We endeavour to keep a list of major allergens with the banquet menu on registration for sign-ups.
Novacon continues to host Tasting events where alcohol is consumed. We offer a range of soft drink options as an alternative.
If you need anything else that we have no mentioned here please do contact us and let us know.
Please email chair@novacon.uk with any questions.