The specialist ‘wayfinding’ consultants Placemarque were commissioned earlier this year to examine signposting in and around York’s city centre and ways in which better signing can be achieved for places like bus stops, Newgate Market, taxi ranks and civic buildings.Placemarque is renowned for working with historic cities, and undertook the study to consider what works and doesn’t work in the city’s current signing systems, including the main arrival points, the Park&Ride sites and the Rail Station.

Supported by the Access and Mobility Audit of the city centre, undertaken in 2012, the audit found that the available information on sign posts and civic information points does not currently meet accessibility guidelines in terms of font, size and colour.

This means it can be difficult for people with disabilities or dementia to navigate their way around York and so this initiative is part of a wider citywide campaign to encourage residents and businesses to become more dementia aware, helping York to become a dementia friendly city.

Pioneering in this subject is the Jospeh Rowntree Foundation who supports the initiative.

Philly Hare, who manages JRF’s programme ‘Dementia without Walls’, said: “We know that clear signage and other clues for way finding can help people at the earlier stages of dementia to continue making the most of their community, and to get out and about with confidence. City of York Council has been a key player in helping to create a dementia-friendly York, and this new scheme could make a huge difference’.

Prototype signs and maps have been designed as part of the consultation, which starts Monday 1 September until Monday 13 October.

Drop-in events will take place on the following dates: