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Changing Places Awareness Day
July 19, 2016Archives
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Hoe Grange holidays is not the only concern with a 10th anniversary this year. We are in good company as Changing Places Consortium are celebrating their special 10th anniversary with an awareness day - check out #CPSelfie
What are Changing Places ?
Some of you may never have heard of Changing Places Toilets – so what is so special about them?
Most of us take going to the toilet in public places for granted and don’t even have to consider the need to plan your whole day out around finding suitable toilet facilities. However for some people this is a real problem, as "bog" standard just isn't a possibility!
Through disability, age or infirmity some people require more specialist toilet provision. Not having the right facilities means only going out for a couple of hours at a time or being changed on a public toilet floor - which is humiliating and doesn't bear thinking about given the state of most public toilets.
When you’ve got to go…
Changing Places toilets make a real difference as they are clean, bright, facilities fully equipped with all the wonderful things anyone could wish for: an adult-sized, height-adjustable changing bench, a ceiling hoist, a toilet, with space either side for carers, sink, bins, a modesty screen and above all plenty of space.
Creating awareness
Here in Derbyshire we are celebrating Changing Places Awareness Day in style. Gillian Scotford and Jane Carver of Accessible Derbyshire are passionate about accessible toilets because their children have great need of them. So to raise awareness they took up the challenge to drive two Boma 7 off-road wheelchairs 23 km from the CP toilet in Cromford to the CP toilet in the Proact Stadium in Chesterfield. An epic effort to help raise awareness and much needed funds.
Gillian raring to go, complete with selfie glasses!
Dashing off from Cromford Mill

Arriving safely at Chesterfield Proact Stadium
Where’s the nearest Changing Place?
In Derbyshire we are extremely lucky and have 23 Changing Places toilets (hence the 23km challenge) – you can easily find out where they are using the Changing Places Toilet Map.
The nearest one to Hoe Grange is down at Cromford Wharf so you can enjoy a full day out walking along Cromford Canal and visiting Sir Richard Arkwright’s Cromford Mill, part of the Derwent Valley World Heritage site. The new visitor centre has been recently opened and is great for wheelchair access.
Unlock the key
To use Changing Places you will need a RADAR key and your own sling if you need to use the ceiling hoist. RADAR keys are often available from your local district or borough council. Alternatively, you can purchase one from RADAR
Mobile Changing Places Unit
Thanks to funding from Derbyshire County Council’s ‘Aiming High’ fund Derbyshire is one of only a few Councils in Britain to have its very own Mobile Changing Places Unit. This unit can be taken out to the many festivals, fairs and events in the county making them accessible to everyone too!
We hired it for our Boma Challenge day at Hoe Grange. Any group or organisation wishing to hire the unit for an event can contact Richard Sutton on 0333 800 0199.
10 years on and Changing Places are continuing to change people's lives for the better!
Felicity









