The Big Squat

Changing Places, sponsored by Aveso, takes part in ‘The Big Squat- a movement for the toilet-less’ as part of World Toilet Day

13 people squat for 1 minute at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

19 November 2013, London – 13 people today squatted for 1 minute at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park as part of the ‘The Big Squat – a movement for the toilet-less’ which is part of the 51 events taking place in over 19 countries for World Toilet Day. Thanks to the guys from Thames Water and Taylor Wimpey for their support.
Standard disabled toilets do not meet the needs of thousands of people, including people with cerebral palsy, spina bifida, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, older people affected by incontinence and the 40,000 people with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD). Without adequate facilities, families have to change the person they care for on a cramped and dirty toilet floor. The alternative is to limit outings to a few short hours, or not go out at all. Changing Places toilets have a height-adjustable changing bench, a hoist and plenty of space and can make all the difference to someone with PMLD.
With two Changing Places facilities already in use at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, and a further four in the plans for the future, it was the perfect location for the event. The London Legacy Development Corporation, who owns the Park, is committed to securing a strong Paralympic legacy following the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games. National Paralympic Day saw thousands of visitors experience the best of disability sport and art and the Motivate East project is encouraging disabled people locally to find a route into sports and physical activities.

“Imagine having to change your son, daughter or partner on the floor of a public toilet,” said Clare Lucas, Activism Lead at Mencap. “Most of us would agree this is unhygienic, undignified and unacceptable. Sadly, there are thousands of disabled people and families who do not need to imagine. For them, this is a daily reality where they are forced to choose between this or becoming prisoners in their own home."
“By doing the squat in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park we are hoping to make the message clear that these facilities are crucial in terms of enabling 230,000 people across the UK to use the toilet and also access their communities."
“We are encouraging as many of our supporters from across the country to take part in whatever way they can, sharing their photos and stories with us via email and social media. There are now 565 Changing Places toilets around the UK that we know of, and most of them have been built because people campaigned for them to be installed.”
“It is important that all visitors to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park are able to enjoy the facilities.”

Dennis Hone, Chief Executive of the London Legacy Development Corporation. “Creating a strong Paralympic legacy is important, from the events that take place at the Park to the facilities that are on offer, we want the Park to be fully accessible. The Changing Places toilets are an important part of this legacy and we are pleased to host this event."

For more information or to arrange an interview with a Mencap spokesperson or for a case study, contact Jonathan Caleb-Landy, Mencap Press Office, on 020 7696 5414 or jonathan.caleblandy@mencap.org.uk

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park will be a place unlike any other in London, offering the best in sporting and cultural amenities in world class venues and parks, and at the same time creating places to live and work that are rooted in the ethos and fabric of east London’s diverse and vital communities.

The north of the Park is already open for people to enjoy and the south of the Park will be reopening from Spring 2014.

For more information visit www.QueenElizabethOlympicPark.co.uk.

The London Legacy Development Corporation

The London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) promotes and delivers physical, social, economic and environmental regeneration in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and the surrounding area, in particular by maximising the legacy of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

For more information visit www.londonlegacy.co.uk.