Right now, there are over 1/4million people across the UK living without access to appropriate toilet facilities. Many people with profound and multiple learning disabilities or with physical disabilities such as spinal injuries, muscular dystrophy and multiple sclerosis often need extra equipment and space to allow them to use the toilet safely and comfortably. These needs are met by Changing Places Toilets. Changing Places Toilets enable anyone, regardless of their disability, to go to the shops, attend hospital appointments, enjoy community life, socialise and travel. All the things that many of us take for granted every day.

PAMIS is a Scottish charity supporting people with profound learning and multiple disabilities, their families and carers. Many of our families cannot use accessible toilets and need a Changing Places toilet which has an adult sized changing bench, ceiling hoist and is much bigger to allow the whole family access or carers to assist with personal care. Our charity works tirelessly to create change for these families and thousands of others across Scotland with various disabilities who also require Changing Places toilets.

Each year, on November 19th, United Nations World Toilet Day is celebrated, raising awareness of all those who are living without access to safely managed sanitation and as the lead organisation in Scotland for the development of Changing Places toilets, PAMIS asked for your support in spreading the word about World Toilet Day and creating change for those who currently do not have access to appropriate toilets and you really got behind us! Thank you.

The symbol of World Toilet Day 2023 was the hummingbird.  In the ancient story, a hummingbird does what she can to fight a great fire – carrying droplets of water in her beak. Her actions – though small – are helping solve a big problem. Toilets are small but might, just like the hummingbird!

Our charity vehicle, the Pamiloo, was out and about in Clackmannanshire on Sunday 19th November 2023 and attended the red carpet launch of a fantastic new resource, A Loo For Me, A Loo For You in partnership with Lochies school pupils, teachers and parents! Read all about the day itself here.

Watch our video of the day

Share

Thank you to all those who downloaded the official World Toilet Day Activation Kit HERE and promoted to your contacts and talked about toilets to friends and family, helping to break taboos and make everyone aware that toilets are vital and a fundamental human right we so often take for granted.

Learn

Find out more about some of the ongoing work we are doing here at PAMIS to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and how we support the development of Changing Places toilets in Scotland. Please share any of these stories on y0ur own social media – help us reach as many people as possible.

A Loo For Me, A Loo For You – a sensory story celebrating World Toilet Day 2023.

Development Programme Update – Changing Places toilets, Scotland.

Behind the Scenes – a week in the life of the Changing Places toilet team.

Spotlight on – The Larick Centre, Fife.

Act

Download The Changing Places toilet Practical Guide 

Check out Scottish Government’s Changing Places toilets Planning Guide.

Contact the team at PAMIS for FREE advice, guidance and support on building your own Changing Places toilet. Email [email protected]

If you live in England – contact our consortium co chairs, Muscular Dystrophy for free advice and support. Email [email protected]