Changing Places Awareness Day 2026: Why Accessible Toilets Change Lives

 

For the past 12 years, I have campaigned to improve access to Changing Places toilets across Scotland. Ahead of Changing Places Awareness Day 2026, I wanted to share my journey, why this campaign matters so much to me, and why awareness is just as important as providing more facilities.

Every year, Changing Places Awareness Day provides an opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of accessible toilet facilities for disabled people.

For many people, using the toilet is something they rarely have to think about. However, for thousands of disabled people across the UK, accessing suitable toilet facilities can be one of the biggest barriers to travelling, socialising and living independently.

As someone with athetoid cerebral palsy, I know this challenge all too well. I use a wheelchair and require specialist equipment, including a hoist, to use the toilet safely and comfortably. Standard accessible toilets do not meet my needs, which is why Changing Places toilets are so important to me.

My passion for this issue has led many people to know me as 'The Toilet Woman'.". For more than a decade, I have campaigned to improve access to Changing Places toilets and raise awareness of why they are essential. Through my campaigning, I have seen real progress, but there is still more work to do.

As we mark Changing Places Awareness Day 2026, I want to share my story, explain why these facilities matter, and highlight why awareness remains just as important as providing the facilities themselves.

My Story

I started campaigning for more Changing Places toilets in 2014 because I felt extremely limited in where I could go.

At that time, there were only two Changing Places toilets in Glasgow – one in the city centre and one at Braehead. As someone who is outgoing and loves visiting new places, this was incredibly frustrating.

Many people take for granted the freedom to travel, go shopping, visit attractions or spend a day out with friends and family. However, for me, the lack of suitable toilet facilities meant that many places were simply inaccessible.

Because I require a hoist to use the toilet safely and comfortably, standard accessible toilets do not meet my needs. Without access to a Changing Places toilet, I often had to think carefully about where I was going and how long I could stay there.

I remember feeling that my world was becoming very small. I wanted to visit different places and enjoy new experiences, but the lack of Changing Places toilets often made this impossible.

That was when I decided something needed to change. Rather than accepting the situation, I chose to start campaigning for more Changing Places toilets so that disabled people like me could have the same freedom and opportunities as everyone else.

The Beginning of My Campaign

Once I decided that something needed to change, I began looking for ways to make my voice heard.

One of the first things I did was start a petition, which I shared on Facebook. To my delight, it received more than 100 signatures. It may not sound like a huge number, but for me it showed that other people understood the importance of the issue and supported the campaign.

Around the same time, I joined The Advisory Group (TAG). I remember raising the issue of Changing Places toilets at one of my first meetings. The response was incredibly encouraging, with people telling me that I should take the campaign further.

Later that year, I attended the opening of the 100th Changing Places toilet at a rugby stadium. It was an inspiring event and showed me that progress was possible.

I also remember speaking to the manager of TAG, who has since become a very good friend. We talked about the possibility of really developing the campaign and taking it forward.

The following February, I gave a presentation to Glasgow TAG about Changing Places toilets and why they were needed. Looking back, I think that evening was the true beginning of what would become many years of campaigning as "The Toilet Woman".

At the time, I had no idea where the campaign would lead. I simply wanted to make a difference. Little did I know that it would become such an important part of my life.

 

The Campaign Grows

With the support of TAG, one of the first things I did was make a video explaining my situation and why Changing Places toilets were so important.

In the video, I talked about the barriers I faced because of the lack of suitable toilet facilities and explained what a Changing Places toilet is. The video received a lot of views on social media and, for the first time, I realised how many people were willing to listen and learn about the issue

As the campaign grew, I began to see more Changing Places toilets being installed in places such as Glasgow Central Station and the OVO Hydro. I don't know how much of this was directly down to my campaign, but I like to think that I played a small part in helping to raise awareness and encourage change.

One year, during Changing Places Awareness Day, I shared information about the campaign on social media and received a fantastic response. The feedback encouraged me to take things further, so I contacted STV to tell them about the issue.

STV covered my story, and the response was incredible. The publicity helped raise awareness of Changing Places toilets and introduced many more people to the campaign.

It was around this time that I created my Facebook page, "The Toilet Woman". What started as a campaign about accessible toilets was beginning to develop into something much bigger. More people were hearing about the issue, joining the conversation and helping to spread awareness.

For the first time, I felt that the campaign was making a real difference.

 My Greatest Achievement

Over the years, the campaign has given me many opportunities that I never imagined would happen. I have appeared on STV and BBC News, been featured in the Glasgow Times and even appeared on the television programme *Inside Central Station*.

I am proud of all these achievements because they helped raise awareness of Changing Places toilets and the barriers faced by disabled people.

However, if I had to choose the achievement, I am most proud of, it would be the installation of a Changing Places toilet at Clydebank Shopping Centre.

I truly believe that if I had not approached the shopping centre and spoken to them about the importance of Changing Places toilets, the facility might never have been installed.

I remember one meeting where staff told me that they knew about Changing Places toilets, but they did not fully realise how important they were to disabled people and their families.

The campaign to get the facility installed was not quick. In fact, it took six years from my first conversations until the toilet was finally opened.  There were times when I wondered if it would ever happen.

There were no big opening ceremony and no huge celebration. However, that does not matter to me. Every time I visit Clydebank Shopping Centre and see the large blue Changing Places sign, I feel incredibly proud.

For me, that sign represents  of determination, persistence and campaigning. More importantly, it represents greater freedom, dignity and independence for disabled people who need these facilities.

That is why I consider it the greatest success of my campaign.

Why Changing Places Toilets Matter

To some people, it might seem strange that I spend so much time talking about toilets. However, for me and many other disabled people, Changing Places toilets are one of the most important facilities we can have.

I cannot simply use a standard accessible toilet because I require a hoist to transfer safely from my wheelchair. Without a hoist, getting out of my wheelchair is not safe and, in many cases, would be impossible.

That is why a hoist is one of the most important pieces of equipment in my life. It gives me access to places that I would otherwise be unable to visit and allows me to use the toilet safely and comfortably.

Another important feature of a Changing Places toilet is the changing bench. Although I do not use a changing bench very often myself, I know how important they are for many disabled people and their families.

Before Changing Places toilets became more widely available, some people had no choice but to be changed on the floor of a toilet. No one should have to face that situation.

Changing Places toilets provide people with dignity, safety and comfort. More importantly, they provide freedom.

For disabled people like me, access to a Changing Places toilet means being able to travel, visit new places, spend time with family and friends and enjoy life without constantly worrying about where the nearest suitable toilet is.

That is why these facilities matter so much. They are not simply toilets; they are a gateway to greater independence and inclusion.

 How Far We've Come

When I first started campaigning in 2014, my choices were extremely limited. Going somewhere new often depended on whether there was a suitable toilet available. It was frustrating to feel that something as basic as access to a toilet could determine where I could and could not go.

However, over the years, things have slowly started to improve.

More venues began installing Changing Places toilets, including Glasgow Central Station, Queen Street Station, Kelvin Hall, Riverside Museum, the Burrell Collection and Glasgow Science Centre, along with many other locations across the city and beyond. When I started campaigning there were only two Changing Places toilets in Glasgow. Today, there are around 26 facilities across the city, showing just how much progress has been made.

One of my proudest moments was opening the Changing Places toilet at Riverside Museum, It felt like a reminder of how far the campaign had come since those early days when there were only two facilities available in Glasgow."  It was wonderful to see another accessible facility being added and to know that it would make a difference to so many people.

The growth has not been limited to Glasgow. Other places, such as Largs, have also installed Changing Places toilets, creating more opportunities for disabled people to travel and enjoy new experiences.

As more facilities have opened, life has become better for me and for many other disabled people. We can meet friends for coffee, go shopping, attend concerts and enjoy days out without constantly worrying about where the nearest suitable toilet is.

When I look back at where things were in 2014 and compare them to where we are today, I can see just how much progress has been made. There is still more work to do, but there is no doubt that Changing Places toilets have transformed the lives of many disabled people, including my own.

What Still Needs to Change

Although I am proud of the progress that has been made, there is still more work to do.

Of course, we need more Changing Places toilets. There are still many places where disabled people cannot travel, socialise or enjoy a day out because suitable facilities are not available.

However, my campaign has never been just about getting more toilets built. Awareness is just as important.

Over the years, I have realised that many people simply do not know what a Changing Places toilet is or why it is needed. Others may see a Changing Places toilet without understanding that it has been designed for people who require specialist equipment such as a hoist and changing bench.

I understand this because we do not always think about the challenges that other people face in their daily lives. However, I believe it is important to be aware of other people's needs. Disability can affect anyone, and one day any of us could find ourselves relying on accessible facilities.

That is why I make such a big effort to support Changing Places Awareness Day every year. It is an opportunity to start conversations, share experiences and help people understand why these facilities matter.

Awareness can make a real difference. It can help people understand who Changing Places toilets are designed for and encourage them to think twice before using a facility that someone else may depend on.

For me, raising awareness is not just part of the campaign – it is at the heart of it.

 Conclusion

Looking back over the years, there is no doubt that Changing Places toilets have come a long way.

As a campaigner, I would love to see more Changing Places toilets installed across the country. Just as importantly, I would like to see a greater understanding of why these facilities are needed and how important they are to the people who rely on them.

Changing Places toilets are not a luxury. They are essential facilities that enable many disabled people to live their lives with dignity, safety and independence.

I would also like to recognise the work of Pamis, who have led the Changing Places toilets campaign and played a significant role in raising awareness and improving accessibility across the UK. Their work, alongside the efforts of disabled people, families, organisations and campaigners, has helped bring about positive change for thousands of people.

As we mark Changing Places Awareness Day 2026, I hope my story has helped people better understand why these facilities matter so much.

My campaign may have started because I wanted more freedom to visit different places, but over the years it has become about something much bigger: ensuring that disabled people have the same opportunities as everyone else.

That is why I will continue to support Changing Places Awareness Day and raise awareness whenever I can.

Because everyone deserves the freedom to go wherever life takes them.

#CPTAD2026

To find out more about Changing Places toilets and the work of Pamis, visit their website.

 

Changing Places Toilets Scotland | PAMIS

Written by Jill Clark 

Leaving the cold for the Sunshine

 

 

 When I heard Mum and Dad talking in the kitchen, their voices light with excitement, I knew the day had finally arrived. The house was still cold, the kind that clings to the walls in the early morning, but it hardly mattered. We were leaving for our favourite place of sunshine — Florida.

 

Sitting in the living room with all the cases around us, we hear the sound of the taxi outside. We get everything together and go out to the taxi. The cold morning air hits us, but today it doesn’t matter. We know we are starting our holiday.

 

Waiting for check-in to open, I sit in my wheelchair and look around me. It is such a busy place, and I wonder where everyone is going.

 

Once we get through check-in and security, the smell of duty-free hits me, and I feel even more excited.

 Walking through duty-free under the bright lights, the air is thick with perfume. Bottles line the shelves in neat rows. I slow down beside the familiar scent of Lady Million, the one I always reach for, before moving on again.

 

Walking through the busy airport towards the gate, I feel more excited as I see so many airplanes. I watch them move across the runway and think about all the different journeys starting at the same time.

 

  Waiting at the gate, I see the big TUI airplane and notice how many people are arriving for the same flight. When the announcement calls our family forward, the excitement builds even more.

 

 At the door of the airplane, as Dad gets ready to lift me on board, I say goodbye to my wheelchair. I’ll see it again in Florida.

Getting comfortable on the airplane, I watch everyone boarding. I hear the pilot welcoming everyone on board and talking us through the flight details. It feels almost time to go.

 As I hear the doors of the airplane closing and feel it begin to move, I look out of the window. Everything outside is wet and grey. I say goodbye to cold, rainy Glasgow, knowing I will see it again in two weeks

Nine hours have passed, and I am starting to feel uncomfortable and miss my wheelchair. When I hear the pilot announce that we are ten minutes from landing, I feel a sense of relief that it is almost time to feel the warm sunshine.

 

 When I hear the wheels of the airplane hit the runway and see the bright sun outside, the excitement builds again.

 

 Once we collect our cases and I am settled back into my wheelchair, we make our way through the airport.

 

 As the doors slide open, warm air wraps around us. Palm trees stand tall against the clear sky.

 

 We have made it — from cold to sunshine.

 

Written by Jill 

Glasgow’s campaigners fight for better access to banks

 

As more banking services move online, campaigners in Glasgow are fighting to keep local bank branches open. Many disabled and elderly people find it difficult to access their money without in-person services. With more than 700 bank branches closing across Scotland in recent years, concerns about financial accessibility are growing.

Seven campaigners from Glasgow with disabilities are calling for banks to remain open, as many disabled people rely on visiting branches in person and they need to do their banking on a weekly basis.

 

The campaigners add “If a bank shuts our support time is badly affected, because we have to travel into town or for miles to reach a bank. If that bank is the only one around for miles, and is only open for a few hours, lots of people will be queueing up to use it. This means we have to use hours of our support time doing our banking.”

 

This is affecting over a million disabled people in Scotland, and it doesn’t stop there. As banks continue to close, it is also impacting vulnerable families and older people.

 

 One of the campaigners from the steering committee, Rebecca O’Donnell, says it is important that banks remain open, as many people cannot use cards. “It’s not just about banking, it’s about people too. We miss going to the bank every week and talking to our local banker.”

 

The Campaign Steering Committee (CSC) was formed in early 2024 after members of the Glasgow TAG (The Advisory Group) voted on which issue they wanted to focus on. The problem of bank closures was raised, as many members were unhappy about the number of local branches shutting down.

 

 Since starting, the CSC has been very active. They hosted their own banking conference, inviting representatives from major banks, local politicians, and organisations such as the Financial Conduct Authority. However, none of those invited attended. Despite this, the campaigners were not discouraged and have continued their efforts.

 

The CSC has been working very closely with  Martin Rhodes MP, the Member of Parliament for Glasgow  where he wrote a letter to all of the banks on behalf the CSC

 

 The CSC has also been fortunate to work with an MP. Martin took the campaign further by speaking about the Campaign Steering Committee in Westminster and highlighting the work the group has been doing.

 The CSC has also visited several banking hubs to assess how accessible they are.

 

 A banking hub is a shared space, similar to a Post Office, where customers can carry out basic banking services. The counter is usually run by a Post Office employee, known as a postmaster, who can help with everyday transactions. These hubs are typically open Monday to Friday, from 9am to 5pm.

 

Since starting the campaign, members of the CSC feel that more banks, MPs, and other organisations are beginning to listen to them about this important issue.

  Written by Jill Clark  

Don’t judge a book by its cover

 

It is a true saying that we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but we all do.

Everyone is bad for judging everything by just looking at things without thinking about a wider picture, but we all do it.

If we see food that it doesn’t look good, we wouldn’t eat it.

If we don’t   like a look of a place, we won’t  go to the place.

If we don’t like the look of a movie or a tv show, we don’t watch it.

Even if we like a look of someone, we wouldn’t talk to   them

 Everyone do all these things but is it the Right thing to do. I think not.

 

 It is like everyone knows everyone and everything by just looking but what about the bigger picture about everything or everyone. I believe that behind everything there is always a story to tell.

 

 

a good example why we shouldn’t judge by just dancing is when the singer Susan Boyle took to the Britains Got Talent stage in 2009.  When the judges first saw Susan, they just thought that she was going to be terrible by just judging her by her appearance, but they were all wrong. Does that mean that every singer must look fantastic and perfect?

 

I like the programme the voice because the judges don’t see the person before they sing so they are just judging them by their voice not their appearance.  That is the way it should be, if they are looking for a good singer, they should just be judging people on their voice not anything else.

 

 A thing that I hate, and everyone does it even me, is we all judge someone or something by taking other people’s word forgetting our own views and thoughts on it.

 

 As  a disabled person who is in a wheelchair and can’t talk I had  a lot of experiences when people  sees me in my wheelchair and knows that I can’t talk just thinks that I  don’t understand anything, that is one of my pet hates because how do they know if that I can understand or not  can they see inside head?

 

I think we all need start to not to judge anything or anyone just by looking.

 

 

 

Written by Jill Clark 

A UK’s country singer rocked Glasgow’s concert hall out

 

Nathan Carter rocked the Royal concert hall in his country way on 19^th October 2025

 

Nathan Carter is well known a country singer in the uk and across Ireland. The cowboy grew up in Liverpool then moved to Ireland when he was 18 to follow his dream to become a country singer.

As the lights went down in the concert hall, the crowd just knew it was time for the 35 cowboy to come out.

 

As lights went up and the blue curtain dropped there was Nathan Carter singing Banks of the Roses to get the party started and so he did!  Once the cowboy started singing the crowd started to sing and dance.

 

Nathan Carter went on to sing a Kenny Rogers Medley,

Somebody Like You, Leaving on a Jet Plane. This showed that Nathan can sings anything not just his own.

After that Nathan took time to talk to the audience   and thanked the crowd for coming.  Nathan Carter is great with the crowd.

 

Then Nathan Carter went on to sing his songs Gypsy Queen and Good Time Girls and during good times girls someone from the crowd threw a piece of underwear on to Nathan Carter but that didn’t stop the cowboy from getting on with the show

 Nathan took time to thank his band and everyone behind the scenes especially his tour manager and his younger brother Jake and he   welcome Jake to the stage where Jake sang a cover of Valerie, this was nice of Nathan Carter to do.

 

When Nathan Carter came back to the stage, he said a big hello to the fans who came from Ireland and he sang the beautiful song May the Road Rise with stage lighting a beautiful green to give the crowd an Irish feeling.

Nathan Carter finished his amazing show by rocking the concert hall by singing a Scottish medley and his   most famous song Wagon Wheel in a kilt.  This was a great way to end the show.

Written by Jill Clark 

Disabled access

When you hear the words “disabled access” you just think that it covers everything that a disabled person ‘s need but does it really?

 

 Disabled access is there to ensure that disabled people can enter, move around, and use a place or service safely and independently and that is fair enough, everyone should be able to get in and out and move around safely in  a building, but the thing annoys me that disabled access doesn’t cover everyone’s needs.

 

 Let’s talk about toilets! What a subject to be talking about eh?  But I feel toilets are always forgotten about especially when it comes to disabled people.

 

Going to the toilet is a human Right for all of us.  The international law states The United Nation recognizes: The human right to water and sanitation This means everyone should have access to Safe Clean Accessible Affordable Dignified toilets and hygiene facilities, and most of public places do follow this rule but as a disabled person I know it doesn’t meet everyone’s needs.

 

 If there are toilets in a public place you find a disabled toilet too. A disabled toilet is a stand  lone toilet, quite big with  wide doors, grab rails and high toilet seats but  these  toilets are just suitable for disabled people are in a wheelchair and can do everything for themselves  like going to the toilet themselves but what about the  rest of disabled people who needs support and  can’t take themselves to the toilet?

 

 I am a wheelchair user and haven’t got any mobility at all so I require a hoist to go to the toilet, so a normal disabled toilet isn’t any good for me. I need a Changing Places toilet which has a hoist in it.

 

Sadly, not everyone thinks of a Changing pPaces or special equipment to use the toilet and I get it in a way that if you don’t need it you don’t think it and that is fair enough even I do it.

 

But what about inclusion? Shouldn’t everyone be included in the world? Yes, we should be. So, when it comes to disabled access every disabled person need should be included like a changing places toilet.

When I hear people talking about disabled access, I think to myself how accessibility is it, does it meet everyone’s needs?

 

I do hope someday disabled access will meet everyone needs.

 

 

A accessible and inclusive sport centre for all

If you are a wheelchair user and like to go swimming or to the Gym Strathclyde sport is the place for you.

 

Strathclyde sport is a accessible and inclusive sport centre in Glasgow.

Strathclyde sport is a part of Strathclyde university where it is open up to the public too.

 

At Strathclyde sport they ensure that they are inclusive for everyone including people with Disabilities.

 

Strathclyde sport offers great pool Facilities for disabled people.

 

There is a pool pod which you go in a pool chair then go in to the pod and get lower in to the pool. 

 

The pool is 23m six lane.

 

There is a fully changing places toilet facility with a ceiling hoist and a adult size changing bed, this   can be found at the pool area.

 

There are disabled toilets on every floor and there are lifts to get access to all floors.

 

In the Gym at Strathclyde sport, there is a   wheelchair accessible   exercise bike.

 

The wheelchair exercise bike has 2 little ramps that you can wheel a wheelchair up to it.

 

You can work the bike with your hands or feet. the peddles on the bike has 2straps to keep your feet in.

 

The staff at Strathclyde sport are very helpful and will   assist you  with  anything

 

 Written by Jill Clark