Today, the Council celebrated the opening of recent accessible altering place, referred to as a Changing Place Toilet (CPT), at Queen Mothers Sports Centre in Pimlico.

This follows the provision of those services at Paddington Recreation Ground and Church Street Community Leisure Centre because the Council strives to make buildings throughout Westminster extra accessible to residents as a part of its Fairer Westminster technique.

Standard accessible altering rooms don’t meet the wants of all individuals with a incapacity. 250,000 individuals within the UK want Changing Places Toilets to allow them to get out and revel in day-to-day actions.

CPTs have peak adjustable altering benches, house on each side of  a rest room to permit wheelchair switch, or help from carers and a celling hoist.

The council’s property group efficiently bid for presidency funding for extra CPT provisions throughout the City after which labored with Muscular Dystrophy UK, figuring out Westminster leisure centres as splendid for CPTs as properly utilised by communities, key to bodily well being, open for lengthy hours and workers totally conscious and understanding of accessibility wants.

The set up of those services has been complemented by the council’s current rollout of the WelcoME platform which is now dwell in any respect Westminster leisure centres, libraries, and Lisson Grove and City Hall council buildings.

The council was the primary metropolis council in London to enroll to WelcoMe and the platform allows guests to plan their go to by advising venues previous to their arrival of any particular necessities or variations that they require.

Where requested, guests can then be met on the door by workers the place they are going to be provided any specialist help with the intention of considerably lowering the stress and nervousness that individuals with bodily disabilities can really feel when visiting new venues.    

Mandy Crowford, Director of Services and Assistant CEO at Learning Disability Network London, stated:

It is admittedly nice to see that Westminster City Council is supporting Changing Places Toilets at completely different venues. It’s additionally extremely useful for these with studying disabilities to have the ability to use expertise just like the WelcoMe app to assist them discover extra accessible areas and be welcomed.

Gavin Neate, Founder of WelcoMe, stated: 

We reside in a world now the place loneliness is an enormous problem for a lot of disabled individuals so if we are able to cut back loneliness, then we are able to get extra individuals out of their homes after which we are able to enhance society dramatically. Westminster City Council has extra WelcoMe venues than another Council within the UK so it’s actually the epicentre of social entry.

Andy Davison, Area Contract Manager at Everyone Active, stated:

I’m delighted to see the completion of the Changing Places services at Queen Mother Sports Centre. These altering facilities will make the centre extra accessible to the local people, offering a greater expertise for all consumer teams.

Cllr Jessica Toale, Deputy Cabinet Member for Culture, Heritage and the Arts stated:

As a part of our Fairer Westminster technique, we’re dedicated to bettering our Council buildings to make sure they supply higher entry for all together with these with disabilities. I’m actually happy that at this time we have now opened one other Changing Places Toilet at Queen Mother Sports Centre which can make bodily exercise, which is so necessary for residents’ well being and wellbeing, extra inclusive. We are trying ahead to delivering extra accessibility enhancements throughout the borough and we welcome ongoing suggestions from residents.

Find out extra about Changing Places Toilets: Changing Places Toilets (changing-places.org)

Find out extra in regards to the WelcoMe app: Download the WelcoMe app | Westminster City Council