Zoo Loo First

Marwell Wildlife leads the way – First ever ‘Changing Places’ toilet at a Hampshire visitor attraction is now open

Marwell Wildlife is the UK’s first zoological park - and Hampshire’s first ever visitor attraction - to open a ‘Changing Places’ toilet. The charity was also the 250th UK location, a major milestone for the Changing Places consortium.

Changing Places toilets are different to standard disabled toilets, catering for people with profound and multiple learning disabilities, as well as other serious impairments such as spinal or brain injuries. They often need extra facilities to allow them to use toilets comfortably, and come equipped with extra features including adjustable changing benches and ceiling hoists plus enough room for at least two carers.

Marwell’s new facility is one of the biggest Changing Places toilets in the UK. Its opening marks a welcome addition to the four disabled toilet facilities already in the park and endorses Marwell’s commitment to being an accessible visitor attraction. In South East England alone there is an estimated 31,355 people who require Changing Places facilities, yet there are only 23 currently available – of which only six are based in Hampshire.

James Cretney, Marwell Wildlife’s Chief Executive said: “At Marwell Wildlife we take inclusion seriously and pride ourselves as being an accessible regional tourist attraction. Our new Changing Places facility will now allow a wider group of guests, who may have been unable to enjoy a visit to Marwell, to now come and enjoy the park. We are especially grateful to The Aiming High team at Hampshire County Council whose capital fund financed this project.”

Hampshire Parent Forum chair Ray Daniel campaigned for a Changing Places toilet to be installed at Marwell Wildlife, in addition to the zoological park’s four standard disabled toilets. Ray, who has a 15-year-old son with cerebral palsy, said: “For us as a family, a Changing Places facility means that we can be out for longer than four hours, and spend a whole day at the zoological park. I found Marwell Wildlife very receptive to the need for a Changing Places toilet and I am very impressed with the speed and enthusiasm that has led to this great facility.”

The Changing Places consortium, of which Mencap is a member, lobbies tourism attractions, shopping centres, public facilities and transport hubs to put in Changing Places toilets to cater for the estimated 250,000 people with a disability in the UK who require the facility.

Beverley Dawkins OBE, Mencap’s national officer for PMLD and co-chair of the Changing Places consortium said: “The impact of a Changing Places toilet on the quality of life for people with profound and multiple learning disabilities is significant. Without access to Changing Places toilets carers are often forced to change family members on a dirty toilet floor with little or no privacy. The alternative is to limit outings to a couple of hours or to not go out at all.

 “We have achieved great strides in this campaign since it launched however there are many more facilities still needed. The Changing Places consortium will continue to lobby for more facilities across the UK to cater for the needs of our most vulnerable citizens.”

The Changing Places campaign is sponsored by Total Hygiene. To find out where you can find a Changing Places facility visit www.changing-places.org.uk

Notes to editors

 Photo captions: 

·         Changing Places giraffe and Daniel family: After inspecting the new Changing Places facility at Marwell Wildlife, the Daniel family met Kismet, Marwell’s male giraffe.

 ·         Daniel family inspecting Changing Places facility: The Daniel family were impressed with Marwell Wildlife’s speed and enthusiasm to installing the new Changing Places facility.

 For further media information please contact Helen Jeffreys, Marwell Wildlife Media Relations Officer. Email:  helenj@marwell.org.uk Phone: 01962 777 947

 About Marwell Wildlife

Marwell Wildlife is a registered charity dedicated to the conservation of wildlife and other natural resources. Registered Charity Number: 275433.It is recognised internationally for initiating and delivering successful species and habitat conservation programmes in the UK and Africa, including reintroducing threatened species in the Sahara, restoring habitats in the south of England and running community based projects in Northern Kenya.

Marwell’s zoological park in Hampshire provides a great way for families to enjoy the wonders of nature close-up, whilst involving them in Marwell’s efforts to conserve endangered species and habitats, both locally and internationally. By providing people with a rich and memorable experience, Marwell aims to inspire people to help secure a better future for endangered wildlife for generations to come. www.marwell.org.uk marwell@marwell.org.uk 01962 777407

 About the Changing Places Consortium

The Changing Places consortium comprises Mencap, PAMIS, Centre for Accessible Environment, Nottingham City Council, Dumfries & Galloway Council, Valuing People Support Team and the Scottish Government.

 Groups who need Changing Places toilets are people with profound and multiple learning disabilities, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury and older people affected by incontinence. 

 About Mencap

There are 1.5 million people with a learning disability in the UK. Mencap works to support people with a learning disability and their families and carers by fighting to change laws and improve services and access to education, employment and leisure facilities. Mencap supports thousands of people with a learning disability to live their lives the way they want.

 We are also one of the largest service providers of services, information and advice for people with a learning disability across England, Northern Ireland and Wales.  People with a learning disability and their carers can find out more about our services by calling Mencap Direct on 0300 333 111 or by visiting www.mencap.org.uk

 About learning disability

A learning disability is caused by the way the brain develops before, during or shortly after birth. It is always lifelong and affects someone's intellectual and social development. It used to be called mental handicap but this term is outdated and offensive. Learning disability is NOT a mental illness. The term learning difficulty is often incorrectly used interchangeably with learning disability.

 About Total Hygiene

Total Hygiene sponsors the Changing Places campaign. The company has 50 years experience in delivering toileting solutions for less able people. Its Clos-o-Mat unit is the only unit of its type manufactured in the UK, the only one developed specifically for disabled, and the only one to carry WRAS approval enabling legal connection to the mains water supply.