Campaign update – What’s been happening

24 October, 2016

Asda has announced that they will be rolling out new signs for their accessible toilets in over 400 of their stores.  The new signs say “Not every disability is visible”. Great news Asda!

On the back of this, Morrisons, Sainsburys and Tesco are to meet with Crohns and Colitis UK to discuss their accessible toilet signage. We’re working closely with Crohns and Colitis UK on this, who will also be discussing stoma friendly toilets on our behalf

We are now a member of the Care and Support Alliance.The Care & Support Alliance was set up in July 2009 and represents 80 of Britain’s leading charities campaigning for a properly funded care system alongside the millions of older people, people with disabilities and their carers, who deserve decent care. By joining the Care and Support Alliance we are part of a larger voice working for change and reform to the social care system for those we represent and the wider public.

In May, Gwynedd Council proposed closing 50 of its 73 public toilets. Supporting local objections and protests, we wrote to the Council voicing our concerns. The Council now hopes it can halt its plans by asking the community and Town Councils to help fund public toilets in the county.

The Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) have updated their Train Operating Guidelines, the new recommendations are for toilets to include a hook, shelf and disposal bin. The guidelines have been endorsed by the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB), the Rail Delivery Group and The Department for Transport, and it helps specifiers and suppliers understand passenger requirements over and above compliance with existing standards. Over time this will mean that train toilets should become much more suitable for people with a colostomy.

Based on feedback received from our supporters, letters have been sent to:

o   Eurostar asking them to make their toilets stoma friendly, both on the trains and on the platforms;

o   Manchester Airport offering their airport security staff a training session and seeking feedback on our Travel Advice booklet (in which they are currently mentioned);

o   The Department of Transport and the Civil Aviation Authority thanking them for their support.

All in all, our Stoma Friendly Society campaign is going incredibly well and other developments are in the pipeline that we hope to be able to share with you in January 2017!