Changing Places Facility Now Open At Blackburn Rovers
The unit, located in the Fanzone, near the Blackburn End, is now available to access and provides a specialist toilet and changing facilities for people with multiple and complex disabilities including those living with learning disabilities, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis and cerebral palsy.
Without a suitable changing bench, many disabled people have to be laid on the floor to be changed. This is undignified, unhygienic and puts assistants at risk of injury.
In the absence of a hoist, assistants are again put at risk when forced to manually transfer a disabled person who is unable to self‑transfer between a wheelchair and WC, thus quite often limiting the activities available to them or even preventing them from going out altogether.
Changing Places toilets, which are designed for people who cannot use standard accessible toilets, can vastly improve a person’s quality of life, allowing disabled people and their assistants to stay out for longer and participate in more activities.
In July 2021, the Government made available £30million in funding to install these life‑enhancing facilities in public places and tourist attractions.
Ewood Park is one of three locations chosen in Blackburn with Darwen to benefit from the funding.
Denise Park, Blackburn with Darwen Council Chief Executive, said: “Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council is delighted to have been able to partner with Blackburn Rovers on this very important project.
“Facilities such as these support making us a more accessible and inclusive Borough allowing all our residents to attend more events safely and comfortably. We are grateful to Blackburn Rovers for wanting to deliver this project and look forward to seeing the difference it makes.”
Ben Hickey, Director of Changing Places at RISE, who worked with the club and Blackburn with Darwen Council to install the facility said: “It was a pleasure to work with Blackburn Rovers and the Council to deliver this incredibly important project. Changing Places are so important for disabled people and their families, and this installation brings us one step closer to our goal of putting a CPT in every UK sports ground by 2030.”
Ceri Davies, from Muscular Dystrophy UK, said: “It is a fantastic facility and it is life changing for people with various disabilities who do not have a dignified place to get changed or use the toilet.
“Football stadiums host a number of different events, not just matches, so it is important that facilities all across the country are inclusive.
“This really puts Blackburn Rovers on the map and Blackburn itself for having this type of facility at Ewood Park.”
Lynsey Talbot, Head of Operations for Blackburn Rovers, commented: “It is great to see the club continuing their pioneering work in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.
“When the fund was made public, it was a clear from the offset that Blackburn Rovers wanted to be part of it to continue to make Ewood Park even more accessible to our community.
“The facility will help supporters with complex needs enjoy the matchday experience and also attend the many functions and events held throughout the year. We are grateful to Blackburn with Darwen Council, Rise Adaptations and Muscular Dystrophy UK for their assistance in getting this project off the ground.”
The facility will be freely available to access during office hours and should anyone require the use outside of hours they should contact the security department on 01254 508261 who will assist.
Image Credit: Blackburn Rovers
