The second, and final, round of government funding for the installation of Changing Places toilets is now open for applications from local authorities in England.
Following the successful expressions of interest from 191 Local Authorities in round one, which will see around 500 new Changing Places toilets installed, round two will focus on those Local Authorities that have been identified as having the most need.
There are currently just over 1,300 registered Changing Places toilets in England and the funding from round one will bring that figure to more than 1,800. However, there are still some local council areas that have no Changing Places toilets at all. By concentrating this second round of funding on such areas, we hope to see at least one Changing Places toilet in every local authority by the end of this programme.
Local Authorities have until 30th September to submit their expressions of interest and opt-in to receive funding.
In line with the research undertaken for MDUK by RiDC (Research Institute for Disabled Consumers), new facilities will be prioritised for the following venues:
- Public parks and open spaces
- Tourist attractions including historic properties, seaside resorts and zoos
- Cathedrals
- Museums, theatres and galleries
- Shopping malls
- Libraries and public buildings
Katrina O’Leary is part of the Bromley based Need2Change campaign, who have been actively campaigning for increased provision since 2018. On the commitment to allocating the remaining funding, Katrina said:
“It’s so exciting to see the launch of round 2 of funding for Changing Places toilets in England, meaning more Local Authorities can apply for a share of the DLUHC funding.
We’re asking all eligible Local Authorities, please take advantage of this funding and any training opportunities. Changing Places toilets are a tangible demonstration that you care about people - and whatever your strategic priorities, showing that you want to include your wider community is so important.”
As co-chair of the Changing Places consortium, MDUK continues to work closely with both DLUHC and local authorities throughout. The charity is providing specialist expertise to support local councils that are awarded funding, including:
- Dedicated advice and information via the Changing Places Support Officers
- Changing Places Practical Guide and informative Specialist Training sessions
- Connecting authorities and facilitating a collaborative network of support
- Signposting to established suppliers and installation companies
Robert Burley, Director of Care, Campaigns and Support at MDUK, says:
“We’re really pleased that Local Authorities now have the opportunity to apply for a share of the remaining funding from DLUHC. We look forward to continuing our work on the programme, supporting DLUHC and all councils that receive funding, because Changing Places toilets make a real difference, opening up the world to those who depend on them.“
Webinars for Local Authorities will be held on the following dates:
- Tuesday 6th September, 12:00-13:00 – For First Time Applicants
- Wednesday 7th September, 12:00-13:00 – For returning applicants from the first round of funding
- Tuesday 13th September, 12:00-13:00 – For returning applicants from the first round of funding
- Wednesday 14th September, 12:00-13:00 – For First Time Applicants
To receive an invitation to attend, Local Authorities should email changingplaces@communities.gov.uk.
The full list of Local Authorities who were successful in round one can be found on the DLUHC website.
To find out whether your area is eligible for funding in this round, check Annex C of the round 2 prospectus.
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