Happy Birthday Changing Places!

July 07

Changing Places, Changing Lives was launched a year ago to campaign for Changing Places toilets – which include a hoist, changing bench and plenty of space – to be installed in all big public places in the UK.

Changing Places toilets are needed by people with profound and multiple learning disabilities, their families and carers, and other people who need assistance to use the toilet. Without Changing Places toilets thousands of disabled people and their families have to return home after a few short hours, or are forced to carry out changing on dirty toilet floors.

The Changing Places campaign is changing this. Since the campaign launched at the Tate Modern in July 2006:

• the number of public Changing Places toilets on our UK map has increased from eight to 32
• 30 venues have committed to install a Changing Places toilet in the near future
• plans to install Changing Places toilets in Asda supermarkets and other key venues are being developed
• eight venues with Changing Places toilets won a ‘Loo of the Year’ award, and Nottingham City Council also won a national Community Care Award
• significant progress has been made to secure a change to British Standard 8300 (which gives recommendations for the design of new buildings to meet the needs of disabled people) to include Changing Places toilets
• an Early Day motion in support of the campaign tabled by Philip Davies MP was signed by 112 MPs of all parties
• over 1.5 million people have seen media coverage of the Changing Places campaign
• a factsheet on the legal issues associated with Changing Places toilets has been produced by the Changing Places consortium, together with experts in law and disability and moving and handling policies.

The incredible support and hard work of campaigners up and down the country has greatly contributed to this success. Many campaign groups have formed and are making significant progress locally. In particular, local efforts in Bradford have led to the opening of seven Changing Places toilets with plans for more in the pipeline, and mums Julie and Alison have been successful in getting Changing Places toilets installed in their local shopping centres.

All this means real changes to the lives of families who had previously struggled to leave the house. As one family explains "We can now enjoy a day out just like anyone else".

But there is still so much more to be done to achieve our goal of having a Changing Places toilet in all big public places across the UK. If you would like to get involved you can:

• Visit www.changing-places.org
• Get our local campaign pack www.changing-places.org/get_involved.asp
• Tell us if you know of a Changing Places toilet or plans to install a Changing Places toilet so we can add it to our map: email changingplaces@mencap.org.uk tel 020 7696 6019
• Join our web group to keep up-to-date with the campaign www.changing-places.org/get_involved_emailgroup.asp