A Changing Places facility designed specifically for those with a learning or physical disability has been installed at Clifton Park Museum.
This unique purpose-built facility is designed to support the care needs of disabled visitors and individuals with complex care requirements such as people living with learning disabilities, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis, and cerebral palsy when visiting the museum.
Located on the ground floor of the Museum adjacent to the shop and café area, it is the fifth Changing Places facility to be installed across the borough after the Council was awarded almost £500,000 in government funding. Facilities are already in place at Grimm & co, Gullivers, Magna Science and Adventure Park, Rotherham United’s New York Stadium and Wentworth Woodhouse, with two further facilities to be installed at Thrybergh Country Park and Rother Valley Country Park later this year.
Rotherham Council's Cabinet Member for Social Inclusion and Neighbourhood Working, Cllr David Sheppard, said: “Installing Changing Places facilities across the borough allows anyone regardless of a disability to enjoy the simple everyday outings and pleasures that most of us take for granted. I am thrilled that more of these incredible facilities are open in the borough.”
The installation of these accessible toilets and changing facilities will significantly improve accessibility for disabled visitors with complex care needs enabling them to enjoy their days out knowing any specific requirements they have are met.
Rotherham Council's Museums, Arts and Heritage Manager, Lisa Howarth, said: “It is important to everyone at Clifton Park Museum that everyone has a chance of experiencing and enjoying all that the museum has to offer, regardless of access limitations. We are confident that having these facilities will further improve visitor experience for those who require these amenities.”
A spokesperson from Sense said: “This facility is going to be such a good thing for us. We visit the park and the museum and gardens a lot and before we have been restricted to what we have been able to do. Now this facility is here, it means we can visit with more people with complex needs, and it makes things so much easier.”
The Changing Places campaign aims to see Changing Places toilets installed in all large public spaces so that people can access their community and use a toilet facility hygienically and with dignity.
The Council successfully applied for £490,000 from the Government’s Changing Places Fund, which is one of the largest amounts awarded to any Council.