To celebrate Changing Places Awareness Day, Aveso, sponsors of the Changing Places Campaign, launched the annual ‘People’s Choice Changing Places Awards 2018/19’ – a public vote for the people’s favourite Changing Places toilets.
It is hoped that a celebration of these fantastic facilities will help to raise more vital awareness of the life-changing difference Changing Places toilets make to people’s lives.
The Winner of the People’s Choice Changing Places Awards 2018/19 for the Overall “Best Registered” Changing Places Facility is the fantastic Manx Museum, Isle of Man.
A very deserving winner, this Changing Places facility marks the Isle of Man’s first publicly accessible Changing Places Toilet. A true community project, the Manx Museums’ Changing Places was born from a collaboration between Manx Lottery Trust and Manx National Heritage.
The toilet provides a safe and fully equipped bathroom, which includes a height adjustable changing table, an overhead powered Ceiling Hoist, an Adjustable Washbasin, a centrally placed Toilet with room either side for carers and a beautiful mural to help create a restful location. Directly next door, Manx Museum have provided a ‘Quiet Room’ for visitors who may experience heightened sensory anxiety and for use as a space for those who may need, or wish to, use the room for quiet contemplation.
At every stage from excellent signage, access routes to friendly inviting staff and fantastic facilities, it is clear that the Manx Museum really go above and beyond to ensure everybody is welcome at their Museum.
Edmund Southworth, Director of Manx National Heritage, said:
“The absence of suitable toilet and changing facilities can mean that people with disabilities are often limited to the places they can go or the length of time they can spend there.
Providing a Changing Places Toilet is the right thing to do. We’ve had some incredible feedback already, just proving every small individual use of the facilities can be life changing. [Changing Places] allow people to come to town with the confidence and the security that they can use the facilities that they need.”
On winning the People’s Choice Changing Places Awards 2018/19 for the Overall “Best Registered” Changing Places Facility:
“I was shocked and incredibly humbled as it has come from a community of users who know what it means. Their perspective is worth far more than any critic or architectural award. This is hugely important and we’re very very pleased.”
So far, 2019 has been quite a significant year for the Changing Places Campaign. The English government has put into place two £2 million grants for Hospitals and for Motorway Services,
whilst the Scottish and English government have held a consultation to look at making Changing Places mandatory. With 13 years since Changing Places Toilets established and began Changing Lives, it’s great to see these changes taking place and more than 1,300 facilities in the UK – leading the campaign globally.