Electric Press: Inside Leeds first quiet inclusive space at Catherine's Place

Yorkshire Post

Inside Leeds first quiet inclusive space at Catherine's Place .

Transcript

00:00I'm in today at the first ever inclusive quiet space apparently in the city,

00:06Catherine's Place here at the Electric Press.

00:08I'm in traffic in Leeds and I'm on my way to Leeds' first ever quiet space.

00:13So I'm trying to keep quiet but I don't think I'll do a good job.

00:16But anyway, it was set up by someone who's been diagnosed with autism

00:21and we're about to meet her and to find out what's happening at the quiet space.

00:25So a few things. In my recent trip to Scandinavia with my husband we were talking about how beautifully designed spaces were

00:34to sort of create a certain mood and feeling and make the spaces feel more inclusive

00:39and how that doesn't really exist in the same way in the UK and particularly in other places.

00:45A lot of the spaces are alcohol related or expensive or restaurants for meals out

00:53and there's not very many places where you can go in an evening that is going to be quiet.

00:58So that is one of the roots of this journey.

01:02And what people would you like to attract here?

01:05So we're an inclusive space. We are specifically designed to think about people who are neurodiverse.

01:12So things like sound sensitivity, lighting design, textiles, all of this is sort of coming to you.

01:19The design of the space, for example, in our coffee bar, you'll notice you can't actually see the coffee machine

01:25and it's because it's hidden in the back room so that it's a bit quieter.

01:29Because I know when you sort of start chatting with friends and you can hear it in your ear, it's really, really annoying.

01:36So yeah, just things like that, little things.

01:37Are they the ones in Sheffield?

01:42Oh no, that's the...

01:43How important is that? Are there many other places like here?

01:46In Leeds? No, not that I know of anyway.

01:49There are a few sort of scattered around the outskirts of the city.

01:54But no, nothing in the centre.

01:56All the sort of quiet, coffee-type places close.

02:00If it's an independent at like three, if it's a chain, maybe six.

02:03But yeah, nothing in anything.

02:06Yeah, definitely filling a hole.

02:07And what's it like being based here at the Electric Works?

02:11So the Electric Press is visible.

02:13Oh sorry, Electric Press, not Works.

02:16All the brickwork is stunning.

02:18We really love being so close to the Courageworks Theatre.

02:21We did have a rush the other day with people going to see, I think it was Beauty and the Beast,

02:25like a child production.

02:26And people just dropping in for coffee, having these sort of, you know, really creative artsy people around

02:33is very much our vibe as well.

02:35So that's the point.

02:36Yeah, in the Courtyard, it's beautiful.

02:39And how do you find it when you go into, I guess, a standard coffee shop or whatever?

02:45Yeah, so I'm autistic.

02:47I was diagnosed when I was 28.

02:48I struggle often with sound sensitivity, especially when there's sort of multiple background noises

02:55going on and I'm trying to socialise.

02:57It distracts me.

02:59So yeah, I love a coffee shop, but I tend to go in when I know it's not going to be busy.

03:04Whereas here, we're trying to consider sensory needs at all times, whether it's a busy time

03:11or not, which is something other places do.

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