*PRESS RELEASE" Changing Places opened by Bromley Mayor
Press release: for immediate release
MAY 2024
Mytime Active open two new fully accessible
Changing Places Toilets
Local social enterprise Mytime Active has officially opened two new Changing Places Toilets in the Borough. The new facilities, opened by the Mayor of Bromley, Mike Botting, at Mytime Active’s Pavilion Leisure Centre and Biggin Hill Pool and Library, will help to bring major, life-enhancing freedoms those who need Changing Places Toilets - more than 250,000 people across the country.
Changing Places are fully accessible toilet facilities, primary designed for people with physical disabilities, which can also benefit people with learning disabilities who need support with personal care. Changing Places give disabled people and their carers the space and equipment they need to get out into the local community and enjoy the day-to-day activities many of us take for granted.
The facilities at The Pavilion Leisure Centre and Biggin Hill Pool and Library bring the number of registered Changing Places in the London Borough of Bromley to eight. Bromley Council is working in partnership with Need2Change, a community group of parent carers, dedicated to raising awareness and improving facilities for children and adults with complex disabilities and their families. The funding for these facilities was secured by the Council from a Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities grant – launched to help local authorities substantially increase the number of Changing Places Toilets nationwide.
Councillor Mike Botting, Mayor of Bromley attended the two launch events. At the Pavilion he was joined by disability campaigners, Sophie and her carer. He says: “It is great that these new facilities can now be used by the residents who need them. These are the third and fourth sites I have had the pleasure of opening across the borough this year. It was clear from attending these launch events just how important Changing Places are to residents with complex disabilities and their families in helping them to go about their day-to-day lives and to enjoy this great borough of ours.”
Jason Stanton, CEO at Mytime Active, says: “Mytime Active is thrilled to open our two new Changing Places Toilet facilities, to help minimise the daily challenges people living with disabilities and their carers experience. Leisure facilities must be accessible, inclusive and safe, and must not discriminate. These enhanced facilities will support everyone in our community, so they’re able to maximise their leisure time. Having a fully accessible Changing Places Toilet on two sites will hopefully encourage more people to come and enjoy our facilities.”
Katrina O’Leary from Need2Change, adds: “We’re delighted that more Changing Places have now opened in Bromley. These facilities are really valued by those who cannot use a standard accessible toilet; they make such a difference to daily life – making outings possible, easier and much less stressful. It has been great working with all those involved to help introduce more of these facilities. Thank you, Bromley.”
The Changing Places toilets must be at least 12 square metres and include equipment such as hoists, privacy screens, adult-sized changing benches, peninsular toilets and space for carers. Designs for the two new toilets have been approved by the latest Changing Places Consortium, to ensure both sites meet the Changing Places specification and criteria.
For more information about Changing Places, visit https://www.changing-places.org/
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NOTES TO EDITORS
For information on Mytime Active please contact:
Wendy Golledge or Sarah Lloyd at Big Fish public Relations
wendy@bigfishpublicrelations.co.uk / sarah@bigfishpublicrelations.co.uk
Tel: 07921 319517 // 07801 234369
ABOUT MYTIME ACTIVE
Mytime Active is a social enterprise and independent charity; its mission is to improve wellbeing through its range of more than 100 accessible services. These include golf, swimming, gyms, bowling, soft play, social events and health programmes at 23 locations across Bromley, the Midlands and the South.
Mytime Active is a specialist health provider that focuses on wellbeing from cradle to grave. Unlike typical gyms or health clubs, it offers specialised and inclusive programmes for various groups, including those with health conditions, disabilities, new parents, older individuals, and young people, to ensure that everyone gets more out of life.
MyTime Active reinvests all its profits back where it matters most, into its facilities, services and programmes, as well as into community activities, for the long-term wellbeing of the local community.