Accessible Toilets in Ards and North Down Upgraded to Become Stoma Friendly

Ards and North Down Borough Council has upgraded 44 accessible public toilets across the Borough to become Stoma Friendly.

The upgrade has been funded by the Council and the Department for Communities' Access and Inclusion Programme, which aims to promote a more inclusive society by enabling disabled people to participate more fully in arts, cultural and active recreation activities.

The upgraded toilets feature an additional shelf, hook, mirror and bin. Shelves provide a sanitary surface to lay out medical supplies, while a hook allows people living with a stoma to hang their personal belongings, and a mirror assists them when changing their bag.

Stoma surgery can treat many issues including cancer, Crohn's disease, diverticulitis and childbirth trauma, meaning that this project will benefit people of all ages.

The Mayor of Ards and North Down, Councillor Jennifer Gilmour, said:

"With the help of funding from the Department for Communities' Access and Inclusion Programme, I am pleased the Council is helping to make our Borough more Stoma Aware, in line with Colostomy UK's 'Creating a Stoma Aware United Kingdom' campaign. Being Stoma Aware helps to reduce isolation and loneliness and empowers people to live their life to the fullest. The new equipment in more than 40 of the Borough's public toilets will make a positive difference to ostomates and help them lead more comfortable lives."

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons said:

"I am pleased to see how this programme has made a real and positive difference to those with conditions which can make getting out and about more difficult. The Access and Inclusion programme has already improved accessibility at over 260 arts, cultural and active recreation venues across Northern Ireland. It is great to see this collaborative programme rolling out in the Ards and North Down area, bringing us closer to having the right facilities available in buildings where those who need to can easily access them."

Giovanni Cinque, Marketing and Campaigns Manager for Colostomy UK, said:

"Lack of suitable toilet facilities is a form of social exclusion for many people living with a stoma. It stops them doing many of the things that most of us take for granted, so we're delighted that Ards and North Down Borough Council have joined our Stoma Friendly campaign and encourage other organisations to do the same to support the thousands of plus people in Northern Ireland for whom this is such an important change."

All upgraded toilets have been labelled with Stoma Friendly signage and users are encouraged to provide feedback through the QR code located on the signage. This feedback will help the Council strive to ensure that all toilet facilities are suitable for the diverse needs of disabled people, ensuring they are considered throughout the planning, development and maintenance of accessible washroom facilities.

For more information, including the locations of the upgraded toilets, visit the Council's AccessAble page at www.accessable.co.uk/ards-and-north-down-borough-council, or visit colostomyuk.org for more details about living with a stoma.