A fully accessible toilet has been opened at Dinton Activity Centre in Hurst as part of an effort to help people with limited mobility to feel more confident.
The Changing Places Toilet on the ground floor of the centre, is using and enhancing an existing disabled toilet. This has been made possible thanks to funding from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), in partnership with Muscular Dystrophy UK.
Established in 2005, Changing Places is a group of organisations and individuals who work to support the rights of people with disabilities. At the heart of the movement is a call for Changing Places Toilets to be installed in all big public spaces so that all residents can access the community.
More than 250,000 severely disabled people do not have access to public toilet facilities that meet their needs. Unlike standard accessible toilets, these have:
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A height adjustable changing bench.
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A hoisting system.
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A peninsular toilet.
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Space for the disabled person and wheelchair.
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Extra space for carers.
The toilet will be accessible whenever the car park is open, which can be up to 10 pm depending on the season.
Cllr David Hare, executive member for adult services, health and wellbeing, said: “Ensuring that all residents feel comfortable and confident in accessing their community is essential.
“The Changing Places movement is making a real difference and opening up opportunities to those who previously thought it impossible to enjoy particular locations.
“As we have set out with our Social Care Future Vision, everyone in Wokingham Borough should have the support, resources and opportunities to live in a place they call home. Facilities such as this help us to move closer to achieving that goal.”
The DLUHC invited local councils to apply for a share of £23.5 million in 2021 to introduce more Changing Places Toilets.
This first round of interest from nearly 200 authorities will result in around 500 of these toilets being installed, bringing the total number across the country to 1,800 Changing Places Toilets.
A second round of applications followed in 2022 and the project has an overall budget of £30 million.
As co-chair of the Changing Places Consortium, Muscular Dystrophy UK continues to work closely with both DLUHC and local authorities. The charity provides expert advice to support councils that are awarded funding, including training and delivery of these toilets.
The locations of other Changing Places Toilets can be found online, along with more information about why these facilities are important.
