Look Out For Best Changing Place In England

Visitors with disabilities can discover the best, suitable toilets for them in England, just by visiting Bracknell Forest.

The Look Out Discovery Centre, owned by Bracknell Forest Council, set in 1000 hectares of woodland, has won the 2013 Loo of the Year Award (LOYA) for the best Changing Places accessible, assisted toilet in England, sponsored by Clos-o-Mat. The triumph means the Centre has now been recognised by LOYA every year for the last 19 years, with this latest success being the most prestigious.

“It’s fantastic news!” said “Counsellor Iain McCracken, executive member for culture, corporate services. This is the highest Award The Look Out has received for our toilets, and builds on last year’s success when the centre was chosen as giving the best ‘away from home’ toilet facilities in the UK!

I am also delighted that we continue to maintain our high standards at The Look Out and have once again received a Platinum award in The Loo of the Year Awards for our toilets. Congratulations to our hard working team”

Changing Places toilets offer more than conventional wheelchair-accessible toilets, being developed for people who need the help of at least one carer to toilet. They have more space (minimum 12m2) plus a height adjustable adult sized changing bench, privacy screen, and hoist.

The Changing Places toilet at The Look Out, supplied and installed by Clos-o-Mat, goes beyond the national standard for the toilet, further incorporating a Clos-o-Mat Palma automatic shower (wash and dry) toilet. Looking like, and capable of being used as, a standard WC, the Clos-o-Mat has in-built douching and drying, so the user, or their carer, does not have to clean with toilet tissue. This enhances cleanliness, independence and dignity, and avoiding hand/body contact and potential transfer of contaminants.

Jacky Henderson, manager of The Look Out said, “Last year the centre had over 320,000 visitors. The provision of the Changing Places toilet, and its recognition as the best in the country, means than even more people, especially those with a disability, can enjoy what The Look Out has to offer, for as long as they like, without worry. With over 90 hands-on science activities, The Look Out is very popular with school children, so the Changes Places toilet has proved incredibly beneficial for the school visitors.”

The Loo of the Year Awards attract over 1500 entries annually. The category for best Changing Places toilet was introduced only two years ago, to recognise the growth of the accessible, assisted toilets- over 500 are now open across the UK- and that their installation is now ‘desirable’ under latest Building Regulations. Clos-o-Mat, the UK’s leading supplier of disabled toileting solutions in and out of the home, including accessible hygiene rooms and Changing Places, sponsors the Changing Places category.