On top of the £330,000 grant, we are also contributing another £94,500, totalling £424,500.
This funding will help us to provide more public toilet facilities to meet the needs of disabled people, in particular, those with profound and multiple learning disabilities and/or other physical disabilities, who may need the assistance of one or two carers.
Changing Places
Changing Places Toilets (CPTs), unlike standard accessible toilets, have an adult changing bench and hoist facilities as well as extra space for carers.
The funding is part of a programme to increase the availability of CPT facilities across England.
The funding will allow us to increase the number of CPTs to eight.
This first round of funding will help us to provide new CPT facilities in The Ledward Centre, Stanmer Park and Wish Park.
The Ledward Centre and Plumpton College will be looking after the CPTs located near their facilities.
We’re also hoping to install a CPT at St Ann’s Well Gardens later on in 2023/24, when the facilities there are refurbished.
Improving accessibility across the city
Councillor Amy Heley, Chair of the Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee said: “It really is fantastic news that we’ve been successful in securing the funding to provide more Changing Places facilities.
“This will help us to ensure we are able to provide Changing Places Toilets located conveniently throughout the city for residents and visitors who need to use these facilities, along with their carers.
“In securing this funding, we can ensure they have access to high standard easy to use facilities that provide everything they require.
“We’re really hoping to secure additional funding in the second round of applications, so that those who require them are never far away from a Changing Places Toilet.”
A second round of grant applications is anticipated later this year, where we are hoping to secure more funding to support the development of further CPTs in the city.
There are around 1,300 registered CPTs in England, but demand for provision is outstripping supply and the number of CPTs needs to increase to improve access for severely disabled people and their carers.
Changing Places in Brighton & Hove
You can currently find Changing Places Toilets at Shelter Hall, The Colonnade, The Level and The Brighton Centre.
There are others throughout the city that are managed externally to the council.