Additional facilities for disabled children and adults will be provided at this year’s Great Yorkshire Show thanks to project Place to Change which is providing a mobile changing unit.
The Place to Change project was launched in the region by the North Yorkshire Chairman of the Special Olympics, Andrew Newton, whose daughter, Aniela, has severe cerebral palsy and needs to be changed during any day away from home.
Thirsk-based Andrew knew of several families from North Yorkshire who wanted to attend the show with a disabled partner, sibling or child but were deterred by the lack of somewhere to change.
He sourced the necessary equipment of a gantry hoist and an adjustable changing table for a mobile unit which will be available at the back of Hall One next to where Andrew will be running Boccia – seated bowls
The equipment can be used for wheelchair users who are not able to transfer without assistance and the facility also features a solid floor, hand basin and waste disposal.
Andrew said:
Our Place to Change project came about as there are no Places to Change at any attraction in North Yorkshire, with only Council-provided ones at a few locations. This means many disabled people would be unable to visit or spend only a very little time anywhere before leaving. We knew there were a number of people in rural North Yorkshire, including pupils from a special school, who were keen to visit the show and we are delighted that we have been able to arrange this facility.
He has been campaigning hard for additional facilities across the region, winning support from local MPs. The week before the Show he will meet Richmond MP Rishi Sunak, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Housing, in Westminster to discuss current legislation around provision.
Rishi Sunak MP added:
The show is a great day out for so many people it is fantastic that it will now be accessible to some of the 250,000 people across the UK who need this kind of facility.
The Place to Change will be located near to the Discovery Zone at the show and the Yorkshire Agricultural Society is looking at ways of providing a permanent facility on the showground.
