Changing Places at Belfast City Hall

Belfast City Hall has a new Changing Places facility. Changing Places at the Belfast City Hall is the new facility that will give many individuals with disabilities and their families the confidence to enjoy a day out in Belfast and visit the City Hall. This facility was officially opened on 11st January by the Lord Mayor, Councillor Deirdre Hargey, and Changing Places representative, Micheala Hollywood. Sync Living is delighted to have supplied and installed the equipment in line with Changing Places recommendations.

About Belfast City Hall

Belfast City Hall is an iconic civic building of Belfast City Council located in Donegall Square, Belfast. In 1888 Queen Victoria granted Belfast the status of the city. City Hall was the representation of this new status- a magnificent building. City Hall opened its doors on the first of August 1906. With approximately 50 000 tourists per year, it is considered one of the best attractions in Belfast

Accessible premises:

• Accessible Ramps
• Lifts
• Automatic door opener
• Induction loop systems

Changing Places at the Belfast City Hall provides a clean, secure and easily accessible space for changing and toileting in the heart of the Belfast City Centre.

About the Changing Places at the Belfast City Hall

Over the years Belfast City Council has invested considerable funds in making the City Hall as accessible as possible. Belfast City Council also recognised that the accessible toilets provided in the City Hall did not adequately cater for people with more complex care needs and their carers. Having the facility open 7 days a week from 9 am to 10 pm will allow people to avail of the City Hall and the day and night economy in the city. During normal business hours, Monday-Friday 9 am-5 pm a swipe card to access the new facility will be available from City Hall Reception. Outside of these hours’ security staff at the rear entrance on Donegall Square South will provide access.

Changing Places at the Belfast City Hall were built thinking in the needs of people with physical or mental impairment. These people with disabilities are welcome visitors to Belfast City Hall. City Hall frequently provides tours for people with enhances mental and physical needs.

Comments on the Changing Places at the Belfast City Hall

The Lord Mayor, Councillor Hargey, said:

I am delighted to open this facility in Belfast City Hall. As a council, we are determined to ensure this historic civic building is open to everyone.

I recently launched my Belfast for All charter. It is vital that the rights and dignity of all our citizens are respected and providing facilities for such basic activities as toileting and changing is part of that.

We look forward to the Changing Places facility being well used. Its provision has been carried out as part of the wider work to increase accessibility to the City Hall and Grounds. Extensive accessibility work has also been completed recently at the Cenotaph in City Hall.

added the Lord Mayor.

Rob Burley, Director of Campaigns, Care and Support at Muscular Dystrophy UK, which co-chairs the Changing Places Consortium, said:

We are delighted that Belfast City Hall has registered a Changing Places toilet. We hope that other venues will follow its example and commit to installing these much-needed facilities.

Without access to Changing Places toilets, more than a quarter of a million people are faced with a choice of not going out or lying on a dirty toilet floor to get changed. By building more Changing Places toilets, we can tackle the exclusion that many disabled people face.

About the Changing Places at the Belfast City Hall and Sync Living

Andrew Smyth, Changing Places Specialist at SYNC Living worked very closely with BCC Architects from inception to ensure that this Changing Places facility became a reality.

Andrew, comment:

City Hall is an amazing piece of architecture in the middle of the city and has much to offer the citizens of Belfast and tourists alike. With any historic building, there will always be challenges to protect the fabric and appearance of the building whilst meeting the demands of modern requirements and standards. The final result finished to a high standard and is sympathetic to its surroundings, yet provides all the equipment to meet with BS8300:2018.

Belfast City Council are to be congratulated on provision of this facility in the heart of the city.

Changing Places at the Belfast City Hall will give confidence to a lot of people with disabilities. If you want to know more about how to make your building accessible for people with profound disabilities and their carers, please contact Andrew Smith via andrew@syncliving.co.uk.