Northamptonshire family launch national campaign calling for carers to have more support
Watch Sarah Byrd's report above
A family from Northamptonshire are calling for social housing providers to do more to support carers. The Charlesworth family are launching a national campaign inspired by their 5-year-old son, Harry, who has quadriplegic cerebral palsy.
They've been shielding at their home near Daventry during the Coronavirus outbreak, something they say has added extra pressure to the family.
Harry's mother Hayley wants to help other parents in a similar position, and make sure other families don't feel forgotten. The family's already set up a trust called Harry's Pals to provide things like counselling. Now, they're launching Harry's Pledge to try and improve social housing.
Harry's grandmother Julie runs a housing association that owns more than 20,000 homes.
It comes as the government rules that all new public buildings from 2021 in England will have to include toilets to cater for people with severe disabilities and their carers. The facilities known as Changing Places toilets are spacious and have essential equipment.
The Changing Places campaign has been running for more than a decade and a half, the rule change for new buildings is seen as a huge step towards having suitable toilets available for everyone.
What do Changing Places toilets look like and what's in them?
They have much more space, meaning that there's enough room for a disabled person and up to two carers
Facilities should include an adult-sized changing bench which can be height adjustable
A hoist that will provide access to the changing bench, basin and toilet
The toilet will have at least one metre of clear space on each side
A washbasin which may or may not be height adjustable
A curtain or screen to provide privacy for the user and carer(s)
Non-slip flooring
Large waste bin
Grab rails for necessary support
Emergency alarm to summon help if necessary
Where can I find a Changing Places toilet?
In all new public buildings, so that will include places like shopping centres, supermarkets, service stations, sports and arts venues etc.
These toilets can be crucial for people like Lorna Fillingham and her disabled daughter Emily-May. Lorna says without suitable facilities, going anywhere can be very difficult.
Muscular Dystrophy UK is one of the charities that's been battling campaigning for such a move.
To find out more, check out Kevin Ashford's report below: