Grant Shapps MP met last week with Crohn’s and Colitis UK at their Hatfield office to witness the judging of a fundraising competition, and to learn about the charity’s operation and find out what can be done to raise awareness of IBD.
Grant arranged to meet with the charity’s Chief Executive of the UK's leading Inflammatory Bowel Disease charity, Sarah Sleet, after noticing a Welwyn Hatfield Times story about how the signs on the toilet facilities at the Galleria have changed as a result of a national campaign led by Crohn’s and Colitis UK.
The signs have also been changed across the toilet facilities at the Houses of Parliament.
The new signs show the symbol for wheelchair users alongside the male and female symbols for able-bodied users, above the message “Accessible Toilet - not every disability is visible”.
The idea is to allow people with IBD to access disabled toilet facilities without being challenged, after a survey conducted by Crohn’s and Colitis UK found that 49% of people with IBD have been challenged when using a disabled toilet.
Speaking of his visit, Grant said “I was very pleased to visit Crohn’s and Colitis UK. The work they do to raise awareness of Inflammatory Bowel Disease is hugely important. I am proud and eager to support them in any way I can as the local MP.
“It is great to see that they’ve been successful in getting the signage changed at the toilets in the Galleria, and I am particularly pleased that many of the toilets in the Houses of Parliament now feature these new signs too! I am keen to see that other public toilet facilities across Welwyn Hatfield and indeed the entire country join them in accommodating this change.”
After Grant’s visit, CEO Sarah Steele said: “quote”.
To learn more about Crohn’s and Colitis UK’s work, visit https://www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/.