White Rose Shopping Centre has introduced stoma-friendly upgrades to their toilets, providing a safe, clean, and helpful space for bags to be changed and making the centre more accessible to those with additional needs.
The improvements were made following feedback from White Rose regular Lyn Morgan, who campaigns to improve the stoma-friendly facilities across Leeds and beyond, and recently received cross-party support at a Leeds City Council meeting.
After meeting with Lyn to understand the requirements and ensure any changes were fit for purpose, White Rose introduced the facilities in one of each of its disabled toilet locations. After receiving positive feedback from Lyn and other visitors, White Rose’s sister site Trinity Leeds has followed suit.
The upgraded facilities at both centres follow the Colostomy UK guidelines and include new wall hooks, lipped shelves, wall mirrors, and the correct disposal facilities, increasing comfort for visitors living with a stoma. The stoma-friendly sites also feature ‘Not all disabilities are visible’ stickers on each door, as some users face discrimination when using accessible toilets due to the ‘hidden’ nature of the condition.
The additions come as part of White Rose’s commitment to continuously improving inclusivity and accessibility for all visitors. Using insight from guest focus groups and visitor feedback forms, the centres have implemented a number of features including:
- Quiet Mornings every Tuesday from 10am-12pm. Between these times, the centre and its retailers keep the noise down for those who prefer a calmer shopping environment without music, product demonstrations or mall activity.
- Changing Places toilet facilities for people with profound and multiple disabilities, each fitted with specialist equipment such as a hoist and changing bench with enough space for up to two carers to assist those with a disability.
- Complimentary wheelchair and mobility scooter hire to ensure guests with mobility issues can enjoy their visit.
- Free sensory toys and hidden disability lanyards which can be collected from White Rose’s Customer Service Centre.
White Rose Shopping Centre has also appointed Paralympian Hannah Cockroft MBE as its Accessibility Ambassador, to work alongside the centre team to improve the centre experience for all visitors.
Steven Foster, Centre Director at both Trinity Leeds and White Rose Shopping Centre, said:
“We understand that a trip to the shops can be a potential source of anxiety for people with additional needs, and it’s our job to make sure we reduce these barriers wherever possible. Our new stoma-friendly facilities are another positive step forward.
“We’re continuously looking to make our shopping centres more inclusive and accessible, and we welcome feedback so we can create a positive experience for all visitors.”
Lyn Morgan added:
“I’m delighted that White Rose and Trinity have met our challenge. What we want to do now is set up a Stoma Support group within Leeds and West Yorkshire. The idea of a Support group is to bring peope with stomas etc together in an informal place, socially, to get to know other people whether it be a parent, carer, partner, people new to having a Stoma, even people due to undergo surgery to form a stoma etc. The meetings could have a Stoma nurse, Stoma supply company reps, samples, etc.
“If you are interested or know people who have a stoma and would be interested coming along, please email
lds.wy.stomsupptgrp23@gmail.com.”
This post is based on a press release issued on behalf of White Rose Shopping Centre
While you’re here, can we ask a favour?
South Leeds Life is published by a not-for-profit social enterprise. We keep our costs as low as possible but we’ve been hit by increases in the print costs for our monthly newspaper – up 83% in the last 12 months.
Could you help support local community news by making a one off donation, or even better taking out a supporters subscription?
Donate here, or sign up for a subscription at bit.ly/SLLsubscribe
