It has been a while since I wrote about changing places toilets, but as the Scottish Government has announced the £10m funding for changing places toilets across Scotland, I thought I would write something about it.
For the
people who don’t know me well, my name is Jill and I have Cerebral Palsy,
therefore I use a wheelchair all the time and I require a hoist to get in and
out of my wheelchair. I have another name; this is The Toilet Woman as
I campaign for Changing Places toilets. Standard accessible toilets do not meet
the needs of all people with a disability. Over ¼ million people in the UK with
a disability need extra equipment and space to allow them to use the toilets
safely and comfortably. These needs are met by Changing Places toilets. So, a Changing
Places toilet has the all right equipment in it such as a hoist, a changing bed
and it is very big to move around for a wheelchair user and 2 carers.
On Thursday
the 20th of March I was at Glasgow Science Centre getting interviewed by BBC, STV
and Scottish Government’s media, as a £10m funding was announced by Scottish Government
for a lot more changing places toilets in Scotland. Just now, there are about
270 CP toilets in Scotland and this should increase by 50% thanks to this
funding. Maree Todd MSP, Minister for
Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport was there too on the day. I spent time talking to Maree about Changing Places
toilets and my campaign work, it was nice and she is lovely.
What are my
thoughts of the funding? As a changing
places user and a campaigner who experiences a lot of barriers due to lack of CPT,
I think this is fantastic news. Even
although there are a lot of more changing places toilets from when I started my
campaign, many areas don’t have a CPT, like small towns. Even though I live in
a big city, I would love to see Glasgow getting more of these toilets in coffee
shops, restaurants, hospitals, hotels and parks.
In 2025, I still
worry if I can get to the toilet when I am out and about, but with this funding,
I hope I don’t have to worry any more.
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