On Saturday the 19th July, it was Changing Places Awareness Day. I was honoured to have secured the final Adjournment debate before the Summer Recess and to use this platform to pay tribute to the campaign organisation Changing Places in its 20th year. During this time, it has worked relentlessly to seek provision for the quarter of a million people in the UK who have for so long had no public access to accessible toilet facilities, alongside the valuable role these toilets provide for their families and carers.
Changing Places toilets enable anyone, regardless of their disability, to go to the shops, attend hospital appointments, enjoy community life, socialise and travel. Many of us take this basic necessity and right for granted every day. Changing Places toilets are specifically designed for people with profound and multiple disabilities and their carers, who need more space and equipment than a standard accessible toilet provides. The features include height-adjustable adult-sized changing benches, ceiling track hoists and space for multiple carers, ensuring a safe and dignified experience.
As the parent of a child with quadriplegic cerebral palsy, the growth of Changing Places facilities is welcome, but the fact is that we need more of these toilets across the country. Before we were aware of the Changing Places website, my family sadly had the indignity of changing my daughter in a variety of places, such as on a bench or behind a bush to try to give her some dignity. Since we have been aware of the Changing Places map facility, we plan our days out, trips and travel arrangements around it and where we believe there will be a toilet. It has been a life changer for our family.
Currently, the total number of active and registered Changing Places toilets is 2,609 spanning the UK and servicing leisure centres, city and town centres, shopping centres, venues, hospitals, transport hubs, stadiums and attractions. Last year, 414 new Changing Places were installed across the UK, the highest number of annual registrations ever.
I have seen the real impact that that growth has had in London and the home counties as a south-east London MP. I see that now in central London, with facilities at train stations, at cultural venues, along the South Bank and, very recently, in Oxford Street.
Whilst we do have a Changing Places toilet in Parliament situated in the Lower Waiting Hall, it is of the very old, original standard. It is therefore difficult to hoist somebody on to the bed, given how low the ceiling is. There is no facility for visitors to Portcullis House, which is something that needs to be considered going forward.
Unfortunately, there are occasions where, because the information has not been updated or because of a lack of training on what Changing Places toilets are, my family have had some experiences that have been not so great. For example, finding that the only Changing Places toilet in the place you are visiting has been closed because it is vandalised; finding that it is not available due to it being used as a storage cupboard; finding that it has been closed early in winter. In fact, in Bexleyheath town centre in my constituency, the Council took the decision to close a Changing Places toilet because of the repeated damage caused by a person who moved themselves and their belongings into it.
There are, however, some fantastic instances of staff ensuring that those trying to use these toilets as a baby changing room—which happens a lot—do not do so, and examples of fantastic signage explaining what a Changing Places toilet is intended for.28 July 2025
I continue to aspire to see a national disability travel app that shows accessible train stations and interchanges and flags up when lifts are out of order and where there is a Changing Places toilet; and to explore whether a more suitable national entrance system can be introduced given the wide availability of radar keys and unfortunate misuse of Changing Places toilets. We must ensure that we do what we can to expand the provision of accessible toilets, particularly Changing Places toilets, to public buildings, parks and community facilities and I will continue to use my voice to assist this campaign.
Changing Places Toilets
