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Changing Places Funding Update

Changing Places Funding Update

Following a Changing Places funding update from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities last week, local authorities in England now have the opportunity to bid for the second round of the government’s £30m Changing Places fund.

This latest round will provide councils with a share of £6.5 million, focusing on those that have been identified as having the most need for a Changing Place.

Round one saw the successful expressions of interest from 191 local authorities, sharing £23.5 million of government funding to provide better accessible facilities around the country.

It is hoped that the funding will help to install over 500 new Changing Places toilets, helping to increase the number of registered toilets in England to over 1,800.Â

To ensure more Changing Places are installed in areas where they are needed most, contact your local council members to encourage them to apply for funding for your area.

What you need to know

There are still many local authorities with very little or no Changing Places toilet provisions.

In order to change this, it is of paramount importance that local authorities work with the Changing Place Consortium and approved Changing Place suppliers like Innova Care Concepts, to help get the funding they need.

By concentrating this second round of funding on such areas, it is hoped that there will be at least one Changing Places toilet in every local authority in England by the end of this programme.

Following research undertaken for MDUK by RiDC (Research Institute for Disabled Consumers), new Changing Places toilets will be prioritised for the following venues:

  • Public parks and open spaces
  • Tourist attractions including historic properties, seaside resorts and zoos
  • Cathedrals
  • Museums, theatres and galleries
  • Shopping malls
  • Libraries and public buildings

In order for local authorities to submit their expressions of interest and opt-in to receive Changing Places funding, applications need to be submitted by 30th September to the Changing Places Consortium.


Click here to see the full list of eligible local authorities.

Making the application process easier for you

Having supplied over 100 Changing Places across the UK, we understand the importance of getting the details right. With time ticking to get your case together, we’ve put together a plan in response to the latest Changing Places funding update, to support your application process.

Using our experience of helping hundreds of businesses, charities, organisations and local authorities, we’ve listed a few solutions below to help make your funding application process easier, saving you time and ensuring you have the right information.

Ross Hovey Lloyds Banking Group Workplace Accessibility

Consultations

It is important that you understand the latest Changing Places regulations, equipment requirements and costs when applying for funding.

To help answer any questions that you may have on the Changing Places funding update or enhancing your knowledge about Changing Places, book a face to face or virtual consultation with Innova’s Changing Places Manager, Derek Oliver.

Derek can assess your project feasibility, provide advice and guidance for your application as well as booking in site visits to speed up the planning process.

 

Site Surveys

As you create your case to receive funding for a Changing Place facility, you need to make sure you have all the correct information.

To make sure you have all the bases covered, we conduct detailed site surveys.

We assess the feasibility and costs of your potential Changing Places project, making it easier for you to pull together all the relevant information you require for your case.

This includes surveying buildings to highlight potential Changing Place locations, to supporting broader planning across towns, cities or entire regions.

Webinars and CPDs

As a local authority, you need to be able to clearly understand what Changing Places are, how they improve accessibility and the steps you need to take to deliver a compliant facility.

Through our webinars and CPDs, our Changing Places team provide free advice to any local authorities wishing to understand more about the Changing Places campaign, the latest regulations and funding.

Whether it is to help you gain greater clarity on building regulations or give you more flexibility on options to install internal and external Changing Places, our 45-minute virtual sessions provide all the information you need.

 

Bespoke Solutions

You want to make sure that your Changing Place doesn’t just improve accessibility for your local area, you also want to make it a comfortable and calming space for end users.

That’s why we offer the opportunity to create your own bespoke Changing Places, giving you the option of an internal or modular facility that can be customised to suit your taste and budget.

Featuring internal wall graphics, branded signage and even solar panels, let us help you create an accessible space that enhances the quality of people’s lives.

Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo

We helped audiences with complex care needs to experience the Edinburgh Castle Esplanade more easily by installing a modular Changing Place for the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

Read More

Lloyds Banking Group

In July 2022, we worked with Campaigner and Accessibility Manager, Ross Hovey, and Wates Group, to enable Lloyds Banking Group to become the first banking institution in the UK to install a registered Changing Places facility.

Read More

City Hall

Working with the Greater London Authority (GLA), we helped them enhance accessibility at City Hall for staff and the general public by installing a brand new Changing Places facility.

Read More

Lord’s Cricket Ground

With the help of Innova, Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) were able to meet the needs of cricket fans with complex care needs by installing a Changing Place facility at Lord’s Cricket Ground.

Read More

Working with Innova

Innova Care Concepts have proudly worked with the Changing Places campaign for over 10 years, working alongside architects, local authorities and business owners to install over 100 Changing Places in public places across the UK.

Installed Changing Places

As one of the leading Changing Place suppliers in the UK, they provide completely bespoke solutions to any building or site that needs a Changing Place.

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