Changing Places celebrates 2nd birthday

1 August 08

The Changing Places, Changing Lives campaign has celebrated its 2nd birthday. The campaign is calling 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.

Highlights of the last year include:

• the addition of many more Changing Places toilets to our map bringing the total to 53 (see www.changing-places.org/map.asp)
• the launch of our new map which currently features 10 Changing Places toilets which are set to open in the near future (see www.changing-places.org/map_future.asp)
• The first Changing Places toilet installed in a hospital, and the opening of three Changing Places toilets in central London
• The inclusion of Changing Places toilets in the draft British Standard 8300: Design of buildings and their approaches to meet the needs of disabled people
• Changing Places champion Martin Jackaman receiving the Guardian Public Servant of the Year award, for his work developing the Changing Places toilets in Nottingham as well as his national involvement in the campaign
• The Department for Communities and Local Government publishing strategic guidance ‘Improving Public Access to Better Quality Toilets’ which encourages local authorities to install Changing Places toilets
• the Trafford Shopping Centre in Manchester receiving the UK Winner’s Trophy at the Loo of the Year Awards – they also received a national Changing Places award together with the Scottish Parliament and Canolfan Steffan CSB
• groups and individuals across the country continuing to campaign for Changing Places toilets to be installed in their local areas.

All this is great news for the many thousands of disabled people and their families who need to use Changing Places toilets to be able to get out and about in their communities.

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:

• Get our local campaign pack
• 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

Further information

• To contact the Changing Places Consortium email changingplaces@mencap.org.uk or call 020 7696 6954