FAQ
Share
Twitter
Facebook
Copy Link
The Changing Places Consortium can help media professionals with all enquiries. We can provide key figures about the consortium, information on our facilities, spokespeople, statements, case studies, and interviews with our campaigners.
For media enquiries, please contact:
Email: changingplaces@pamis.org.uk
Phone: 01382 755389
Media enquiries only should be directed to this contact. If you have any questions about using or locating Changing Places, registration, signage or supporting the campaign get in touch with us here.
Information and resources
- Photographs are available on request.
- To find Changing Places facilities, please take a look at our location map.
Frequently asked questions
Here are some our most frequently received questions from the press. If you can't find an answer here, check out our FAQs about installation and FAQs for users too!
Q: What does a Changing Places toilet look like?
A Changing Places toilet is larger than a standard accessible WC, and includes specialist equipment, such as a hoist and an adult-sized changing bench. Find out more here.
You can also view case studies of existing Changing Places toilets to see some examples.
Q: What is the difference between an accessible toilet and a Changing Places toilet?
Standard accessible toilets do not provide changing benches or hoists, and most are too small to accommodate more than one person, meaning carers cannot assist an individual in using them. Thousands of people with disabilities cannot use these types of facilities, and need the additional equipment or space (at least 12 square metres) provided by a Changing Places toilet.
Q: Who needs a Changing Places toilet?
Users include people with severe and multiple learning disabilities and people with a range of other disabilities, such as muscular dystrophy and muscle-wasting conditions, cerebral palsy, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis, stroke, some older people and other specific disabilities.
Q: How many Changing Places toilets are there?
Across the UK, there are just over 1,700 Changing Places toilets. Approximately 100 Changing Places toilets are registered each year across the UK.
Breakdowns by region or venue type are available on request.
Q: How much does it cost to install a Changing Places toilet?
Estimated equipment costs for a Changing Places toilet are £12,000 - £17,000, including VAT. But this depends on circumstances: for example, if structural changes need to be made, or what the maintenance and security costs are. It is cheaper to include Changing Places toilets at the planning and design stage, as this removes the need for structural changes to an existing building.
Q: Is there a legal duty on the owners of publicly accessible buildings to provide a Changing Places toilet?
Current building regulations only require standard, accessible toilets to be provided; there is no legal requirement for Changing Places toilets. Changing Places toilets are, therefore, not usually provided as a matter of course. However, guidance provided under British Standard 8300 recommends that such facilities should be included in larger buildings and complexes such as motorway services, sports stadiums, shopping centres, airports, town halls, schools and hospitals.
Previous press releases
Paula Sherriff MP has put forward a Ten Minute Rule Bill around Changing Places toilets.
A child in Cornwall has sued a local theme park under the Equality Act in what is thought to be the first use of the law to try to get a Changing Places facility installed.