Days out for families needing access to specialised and fully accessible toilets has been made easier in two of Manchester's biggest parks, Heaton and Wythenshawe, with the installation of brand-new Changing Places Toilets (CPT).
One Manchester based family, who will benefit from the newly installed toilets, was joined by the Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council, Councillor Garry Bridges to celebrate the official opening of the CPT in Heaton Park.
The fully accessible toilets in the parks are in a separate building and contain adult-sized changing bench, toilet, shower with hoist facilities as well as extra space for carers, giving people dignity when they need to use the bathroom on a trip out. These new facilities will make the parks and other venues much more inclusive and convenient as a destination for people who have a range of needs that are not met by standard accessible toilets.
In addition to the two parks, other sites to benefit from these brand new fully accessible toilets include HOME, North City Leisure and Fitness, Wythenshawe Forum, and People’s History Museum, which were chosen for their geographical spread across the city to make public facilities such as leisure centres, green spaces, shopping, libraries and cultural spaces more accessible to those with complex needs.
All six Changing Places Toilets have been completed and approved by Muscular Dystrophy UK, co-chairs of the Changing Places Consortium, which provides specialist expertise to support councils awarded the funding. Details on each of the toilets can be found on the Changing Places website.
Councillor Garry Bridges, Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council, said:
“The opening of the Changing Places Toilets is an important part of making Manchester a more accessible and safer place for people who have a variety of needs.
"The new facilities means that people can be free to enjoy our parks and cultural venues without worry or embarrassment. It's our utmost priority to ensure everyone feels included and that we continue this work in making Manchester a city for all."
Kathy, a local mum who cares full-time for her daughter, Meg, 11, has welcomed the opening of the facilities.
Kathy, an advocate for supporting complex needs, said:
“Meg loves being outside in local parks to see nature and wildlife, but we have only been able to stay out for 2-3 hours before needing the restroom and we would need to go home again. We would usually have to lift her out of her wheelchair and lay her on the floor which people had walked all over. Now we can go out for the whole day and we go wherever we want to – it's fantastic!”
“The Changing Places Toilets have more than what we need; there’s a shower and bed, a lot of space to suit different types of disabilities for people of all ages and it’s very clean too.
“It would be amazing to see more Changing Places Toilets in Manchester, because it has helped our family so much and will do for so many others across the city. We are immensely appreciative of the work that has gone into creating this new facility.
“It means that people care about us and that Meg can be part of the world and enjoying the outdoors just like everyone else.”
Manchester City Council successfully bid for Government funding of £175K to go towards installing six Changing Places Toilets at venues across the city.