Year in Review: 2025

As 2025 draws to a close, the Changing Places Toilet (CPT) Consortium reflects on a year of significant progress, strengthened partnerships, and growing momentum within the accessibility landscape. This year has demonstrated, more than ever, the power of collaboration - between campaigners, local authorities, businesses, government departments, and families - to improve the lives of disabled people who rely on CPTs.

This year, we celebrated 20 years of the CPT campaign, and we’d like to begin once again by saying a BIG thank you. To all our incredible campaigners, suppliers, government partners, and the many venues that have installed these life-changing facilities - your commitment continues to drive this movement forward. We would not be where we are today without you.

This year saw 99 new CPTs installed across the UK, bringing the total number of registered Changing Places Toilets to 2644.

Notable registrations this year include

Marks & Spencer, Aberdeen

· The Green Welly Stop, Tyndrum

· Madam Tussauds, London

· 5 registrations from Lloyds Banking Group at the following locations – London, Bristol, Leeds, Halifax and Edinburgh (with one more in the pipeline!)

· 3 more registrations from the National Trust who now have 16 CPTs in England. The latest registrations are at Sutton Hoo, Alice HoltForest and Lyme.

We have also seen a much-needed increase in CPT provision in hospitals in 2025.

Motorway Services in England

We started 2025 with a major milestone: all CPTs funded by the Department for Transport, delivered in partnership with Muscular Dystrophy UK, are now completed, registered, and opened for public use across England’s motorway network. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with travellers telling us what a transformative difference these facilities have made to long-distance journeys.

A huge thank you goes to campaigner Zack Kerr, whose 2017 campaign secured government funding for 54 new CPTs at motorway service areas in England.

Journey Planner

Thanks to additional funding from the Department for Transport, we were delighted to launch a new "Journey Planner" feature within the CPT map, with increased functionality for planning, saving and downloading your travel routes. Before you head out on your next journey, why not follow this link to plan your route: https://www.changing-places.org/route/plan

Growing Global Recognition

This year, the UK CPT Consortium engaged with organisations from across the world, all eager to learn from UK experience and share their own approaches. International partners from Chile, Japan, Denmark, Poland, Sweden, Norway, Spain, and the Netherlands are contributing to a rapidly expanding global movement, united by a commitment to dignity, safety, and inclusion. Countries developing their own CPT networks have shown remarkable creativity and innovation:

Spain has introduced thoughtful design enhancements, such as pull-down blinds over mirrors to support people with cognitive impairment, including dementia.
In New Zealand, advocates like Jenn Hooper are driving rapid expansion of Changing Places toilets nationwide and exploring new models for improving access.
Norway celebrated a breakthrough this year with the opening of its first Changing Places toilet in a McDonald’s restaurant, marking an important step into mainstream venues.
The Netherlands opened its first CPTs at Bergen Safari Park and Het Loo Palace in Apeldoorn, laying the foundations for a national network

These developments aretransforming not only daily life for disabled people, but also the potential for safe, dignified, and enjoyable travel across borders.

Another highlight was PAMIS’ invitation to share the UK’s expertise at the 2025 World Expo in Osaka, Japan.In June, Jenny Miller, CEO of PAMIS and Fiona Souter, PAMIS Inclusive Communities Director, took part in several days of global knowledge exchange, exploring inclusive toilet standards, design best practice, and continence support from around the world. During the visit, the team met leading global advocates for accessibility and human rights, including:

Professor Dr. Jack Sim, founder of UN World Toilet Day and a long-standing champion of sanitation rights.

Yuriko Oda, founder and CEO of WheeLog!, an award-winning, user-generated accessibility map used by more than 100,000 people worldwide. A wheelchair user since 2006, Yuriko has dedicated her career to improving access to information and inclusive mobility. She received the Japan SDGs Award in 2023. Our discussions with Yuriko and her team highlighted shared ambitions for more inclusive environments and accessible travel.

20 Years of the CPT Campaign

July marked a major milestone: 20years of the CPT campaign. Since its launch in 2005, thousands of CPTs have been installed across the UK, sparking a global movement for more inclusive toilet provision. This anniversary not only celebrates the incredible progress made but also underscores the ongoing need for more CPTs. For two decades, campaigners and the CPT Consortium have worked tirelessly to raise awareness and push for greater inclusion for disabled people, their families, and carers. This has led to significant legislation changes as well as dedicated funding to increase the number of CPTs across the UK.

Despite the progress, many key public spaces still lack suitable facilities, and many individuals continue to face barriers in their daily lives. While many people within the inclusion and accessibility community understand the importance of Changing Places Toilets and how life changing these facilities are, there is still work to be done to ensure the wider public knows what Changing Places toilets are and why they matter. By working together—sharing stories and amplifying lived experience, we can continue to build stronger public understanding and support and spark broader conversations about the importance of fully accessible toilet provision. The campaign is far from over - the anniversary is a powerful reminder of the need to ensure every person has equal access to public spaces and services.

Scottish Changing PlacesToilet Government Fund

As co-founders and Chairs of the UK CPT Consortium, PAMIS are delighted to support the design, development and launch of the Scottish Government’s CPT Scotland Fund, managed by Inspiring Scotland. This fund represents a major opportunity to expand CPT provision and improve accessibility for those who depend on these essential facilities in Scotland. PAMIS are proud to have supported over 80 grassroots initiatives, third sector organisations and local groups in Scotland to advocate for change in their own communities and apply to the Fund. PAMIS look forward to working with all of thesuccessful applicants to support the development of their new CPTs in 2026. Anew Scotland Support Hub launched in 2025 containing lots of valuable resources and support materials to help you build you new CPT. Our team are busy editing andrevising the key publication – Changing Places Toilets – A Practical Guide with new features and tools launching in 2026. Find out more about the first traunch of successfully funded organisations here.

Finally…

As always, conversations continue with venues and organisations across the UK. Our campaigners remain as active as ever, speaking to venues, sharing their stories, and raising awareness at every opportunity.

We’ve already reviewed several exciting proposals for new CPTs at key venues and look forward to seeing these plans become reality in 2026.

Thank you to everyone who has supported the CPT movement this year. Your voices, your energy, and your determination are helping to build a world where everyone can participate with dignity and confidence.