A Changing Places Facility for Westward Ho!

Aim

Northam Town Council wants to provide a "Changing Places Facility" for residents and visitors alike. See https://www.changing-places.org

INTRODUCTION

WHO ARE WE

Northam Town Council, covering Northam, Westward Ho! and Appledore, a progressive and forward thinking Council, aspires to provide a fully accessible park for all residents and the large tourist influx during the season.

THE VIDEO

The video above shows the current disused toilet block, also included are pictures of the park and the community use. The final part of the video shows a changing places facility and how an old disused toilet block could be transformed with everyone's help. 

As the community continues to emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic, Northam Town Council seeks to ensure all the facilities it provides are as accessible as possible.

Providing a Changing Place would make Westward Ho! park and all its amenities more accessible to all, users coming from the local community and visitors to the area.

Users of a Changing Place are often from groups with lower disposable income. Providing free and subsidised local leisure facilities, including tennis, playgrounds and quiet green spaces, helps all members of the community make productive use of their leisure time closer to home, so keeping the costs associated with these activities as low as possible.

 WHY ARE WE CROWDFUNDING

Our aim is to provide a "Changing Places Facility" for Westward Ho! Park.

THE PROBLEM

 "Imagine having to change your son, daughter or partner on the floor of a public toilet. Imagine how you would feel if you were that person on that floor. Sadly, there are thousands of disabled people and families who do not have to use their imagination. For them, this is a daily reality."

THE SOLUTION

Changing Places toilets are fully accessible toilets, designed to help bring major, life enhancing freedoms to the 14.1 million disabled people and the 250,000 people with complex needs in the UK who are unable to use a standard toilet. 

If we are successful in raising the money, it will be used to design and install a new facility. It will enhance provision of accessibility and inclusivity to the Park, which already provides an accessible play area and will shortly have accessible tennis courts and hopefully some coaching, again for the disabled.

COMMUNITY IMPACT

According to the Department for Levelling Up Housing and Communities, some comments from users include.

What does having access to a Changing Places toilet mean to you?

“It means not having the constant worry of whether I would actually be able to have adequate space to transfer safely. It would mean that I am able to go out more, instead of having to limit my fluid intake.” 

“It means fairness and being included.”

“Access to Changing Places toilets means I can travel, can work, see my friends, go to conferences, have a meal without needing to be in an embarrassing situation.”

What difference would having access to Changing Places toilets make to you as a family member or professional carer/supporter?

Life changing. My son is 5 and full care, non-mobile and non-verbal. We currently struggle to use nappy changing tables still, but this won’t be possible much longer. Not being able to safely change him in a clean and appropriate environment will limit our life immeasurably.

It would mean in future my child would not be limited in being able to access different areas…it’ll mean that I don’t have to tell him ‘no’ all the time and he will be able to go and enjoy life how he wants to spend it.

I can maintain my daughter’s dignity and comfort – the alternative is to change her on the floor of our van or the floor of the disabled toilet.

What difference would having access to Changing Places toilets make to your life?

“I would be able to leave the house more and have more of a life. I use a mobility scooter and when I have shopping and am on my own I have to be able to use somewhere that has plenty of room for a bulky scooter and give me space to move freely as well.”

“Confidence to go out with family and not have to worry all the time about incontinence issues.”

“Having access to hoists would give me peace of mind knowing I will not fall whilst transferring.”

How you can play your part

There are four simple ways to help us reach our target, and make this project a reality.

1. Make a pledge. Don’t delay if you’re going to support us because momentum is key to our success!

2. Spread the word. Share our project on your social media pages and tell the world to get behind us! The more people we reach, the more support we will get.

3. Offer rewards. Get involved if you are a local business by donating things we can offer to our supporters. We will give you a shout out!

4. Fundraise for us. If you want to run your own fundraiser – maybe a sponsored activity or similar – use the 'contact project' button at the top of our page to let us know. Setting up your own page only takes a few minutes and you won’t need any bank details. Just a fun idea!

Northam Town Council hopes that everyone can help us achieve our vision and thank you to all who donate.

Thanks also to those donating rewards and to Devon County Council for their generous grant from their Growing Communities Fund.

This project successfully funded on 6th October 2023