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Ceiling Hoists Making Camping Accessible At Camp JoJo
Camp JoJo is an accessible camping charity providing families with children with additional needs the opportunity to enjoy a summer camping and educational experience in an inclusive environment. Based at Nags Head Farm in Cumbria, the accessible campsite has been...
Astor Bannerman Supports Building for the Future with Donation of Two Astor Mobile Changing Tables
Building for the Future is creating a new centre designed to provide valuable support, opportunities and accessible facilities for young people and their families. Following a visit to the developing centre, Astor Bannerman was proud to contribute to the project by...
Changing Places Toilets on the Move: Motorway Services, Ferry Terminals, Bus and Train Stations and Transport Hubs
Most conversations about accessible travel focus on the destination: is the museum accessible, is the beach accessible, is the theme park accessible. Fewer focus on what happens in between - the motorway services, train stations and transport hubs that make up the...
Changing Places Toilet: Blenheim Palace
As one of the UK's most iconic visitor attractions, Blenheim Palace welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors every year to its UNESCO World Heritage Site. From the magnificent Palace and formal gardens to the extensive parkland estate, it is a destination enjoyed by...
What Makes a UK Summer Trip Truly Accessible?
Every summer, millions of us head off for a day or couple of days out - a castle, a theme park, a beach, a city break. For disabled people and their families, the decision-making starts weeks before: researching how they get there, whether the venue can actually...
Hidden Disabilities and Changing Places Toilets: Who Are These Facilities Really For?
When many people hear the term Changing Places Toilet, they picture someone who uses a wheelchair. While wheelchair users are an important group of users, they are far from the only people who benefit. Changing Places Toilets support a wide range of people with...
Why an Accessible Doc M Toilet Isn’t Always Enough
When people think about accessible toilets, they often think of a Doc M facility. Doc M toilets play an important role in improving accessibility and are suitable for many disabled people. They are a vital part of inclusive design and are required in a wide range of...
The Real Impact of Changing Places Toilets: Beyond Compliance
Changing Places Toilets are often discussed in terms of legislation and compliance. But their real value goes far beyond meeting requirements. They enable people with profound and multiple disabilities to participate in everyday life – whether that's visiting a...
A Place for Tamsin: How a family’s campaign helped bring a Changing Places Toilet to Blenheim Palace
Last week, Astor Bannerman joined the team at Blenheim Palace to officially open its new Changing Places Toilet - a facility designed and equipped to give visitors with profound and multiple disabilities the space, equipment and dignity that a standard accessible...
Why Colour Matters in Dementia-Friendly Bathrooms
By Jane Fraser-Hook, Head of Marketing When people think about accessible bathroom design, they often focus on physical accessibility. Can the person transfer safely? Is there enough space for equipment? Is the layout suitable for carers? These are all important...
Built to Last: A 25 Year Old Bath Still Supporting a Family Every Day
When people invest in specialist bathing equipment, they're investing in something that becomes part of everyday life. Reliability, safety and longevity matter just as much as comfort and accessibility. Recently, one of our team visited a family in the North East who...
Accessible Bathroom Adaptation for Independent Living
Astor Bannerman was appointed to provide an accessible bathing solution for a wheelchair user moving from long-term foster care into their own adapted home with 24-hour waking care. The client had lived with foster carers for 17 years and had been using an Astor...
Changing Places Toilet: Clapham Junction Station
Clapham Junction railway station is one of the busiest interchange stations in the UK, connecting passengers across London and the South East via National Rail and London Overground services. With extremely high daily footfall and a wide mix of users, the station...
What is LOLER? A simple guide to lifting equipment regulations
Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998. Its aim is to reduce Health and Safety Risks to people using lifting equipment. It follows the 1994 Manual Handling Regulations which encourage people to use Lifting equipment. LOLER has been prepared...
Changing Places Toilet: Greenbank Sports Academy
Located in the heart of Liverpool, Greenbank Sports Academy is a leading inclusive sports and leisure facility, widely recognised for its commitment to providing accessible sport for disabled and non-disabled athletes alike. As part of its ongoing commitment to...
Bathroom Adaptations & Dementia: Designing Spaces That Feel Safe, Familiar, and Calming
By Jane Fraser-Hook, Head of Marketing When adapting a bathroom to make it accessible for someone living with dementia, the biggest challenges are not just physical. They’re cognitive, sensory, and emotional too. A bathroom can quickly become an overwhelming or...
Changing Places Toilet: Portishead Open Air Pool
Located on the North Somerset coastline overlooking the Bristol Channel, Portishead Open Air Pool & Café Lido is one of the South West’s best-loved outdoor swimming destinations. Originally opened in 1962, the community-run lido combines heated outdoor swimming,...
Changing Places: Amelia Trust Farm, Barry
Located within 160 acres of countryside in the Vale of Glamorgan, The Amelia Trust Farm is a unique care farm and visitor attraction supporting disadvantaged and vulnerable people across South Wales. Based just outside Barry and within easy reach of Cardiff, the farm...
Changing Places Toilet: Ron Cooke Hub, University of York
Located on the University of York’s Campus East, the Ron Cooke Hub is one of the university’s most recognisable and multi-functional buildings. Positioned alongside the lake at the centre of campus, the building acts as a hub for teaching, collaboration, research,...
Changing Places Toilet: Green Street Public Toilets, Truro
Situated in the heart of Truro city centre, the Green Street Public Toilets provide an important accessible facility for both residents and visitors exploring Cornwall’s capital. Located close to Truro Cathedral, Lemon Quay, local shops, cafes and public transport...
Changing Places Toilet: The Princess Royal Hospital, Telford.
The Princess Royal Hospital in Telford is a key acute hospital serving communities across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin. Operated by the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, the site plays a vital role in delivering urgent and planned care across the region. In...
Changing Places Toilet: Corn Market, Worcester
Located in the heart of Worcester’s historic city centre, the Corn Market is a well known public space surrounded by shops, cafes and key visitor attractions. Positioned just a short distance from Worcester Cathedral and the city’s main shopping areas, it sees a high...
Kiva Bath Installation & Wet Room Adaptation – Maidstone, Kent
A specialist bathroom adaptation in Maidstone has transformed bath time for Vinnie, providing greater comfort, improved safety, and a more therapeutic experience at home. Vinnie, a teenager with complex needs, was previously using a wet room with a standard shower....
Bathing & Epilepsy: Why There Is No ‘One-Size-Fits-All’ Solution
By Helen Evans, Senior Marketing Executive When specifying bathroom equipment for someone with epilepsy, it can be tempting to look for a “safest” bath design. But the reality is more complex. Following recent epilepsy awareness training, our team has been reflecting...
St Paul’s Cathedral: Integrating a Fully Compliant Changing Places Toilet Within a Grade I Listed Landmark
From Royal weddings to national services and daily worship, St Paul’s Cathedral remains one of the UK’s most iconic and historically significant buildings. The delivery of a Changing Places Toilet (CPT) at St Paul’s Cathedral marks a significant step forward in...
Paddington Academy, London – Hygiene Room Installation & Refurbishment
Client: Paddington Academy (United Learning Trust)Location: LondonScope: Full refurbishment of existing student changing/shower facilities and installation of a complete hygiene room, including ceiling track hoist and specialist equipment. Paddington Academy is a...
Rethinking Waste: A Data-Driven Approach to Sustainability
By Chris Cooper, HSE & Facilities Coordinator at Astor Bannerman Managing waste responsibly is a fundamental part of operating any manufacturing or engineering environment. At Astor Bannerman, ensuring that waste is handled safely and compliantly has always been a...
Ceiling Hoist Installation at Vine Court, University of Liverpool
Project: Accessible Toilet Hoist InstallationClient: University of LiverpoolLocation: Vine Court Halls of Residence, LiverpoolScope: Installation of two Astor OT200 Ceiling Track Hoists within accessible toilets located in residential social areas across two floors...
Oak Beck House Respite Centre, Harrogate – Integrated Ceiling Track Hoist Systems
Client: Oak Beck House Respite CentreLocation: Harrogate, North YorkshireScope: Installation of multiple ceiling track hoists across key living spaces, including gated systems and a fully equipped hygiene room Oak Beck House is a specialist respite centre located near...
Changing Places: Tower of London, London
The Tower of London is one of the UK’s most recognisable historic landmarks, welcoming visitors from around the world to explore nearly 1,000 years of history. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, introducing modern accessibility features requires careful planning....
Case Study: Crofton Springs Care Home, Cheltenham
Crofton Springs Care Home in Cheltenham is a recently built care home operated by HC-One, designed to provide residential and dementia care for older people in a comfortable, supportive environment. The home has been thoughtfully designed to feel welcoming and...
Springwater School (SEND), Harrogate – Multi-Room Ceiling Track Hoist Installation
Client: Springwater AcademyLocation: Harrogate, North YorkshireScope: Installation of 7 ceiling track hoists across classrooms and care spaces, including XY systems and gated transfers between classrooms and a medical & a hygiene room. Springwater School is a...
OT Insight: What My Placement with Astor Bannerman Taught Me About Supporting Safe, Meaningful Bathing
By Miriam Cowling, Final Year Occupational Therapy Student When I arrived at Astor Bannerman for my final-year University of Gloucestershire occupational therapy placement, a discussion with a sales director about times in which disabled customers had been unable to...
Changing Places: Odeon Luxe – Cabot Circus, Bristol
The brand new Odeon Luxe cinema at Cabot Circus, Bristol, opened February 12 2026, bringing a modern, high-comfort film-going experience to the city’s premier shopping and leisure destination. Replacing the former Showcase Cinema de Lux, the Odeon Luxe boasts eight...
Why Registering a Changing Places Toilet Matters
By Hope Gordon, Changing Places Project Co-ordinator at Astor Bannerman Across the UK, we’re seeing more organisations recognise the importance of installing a Changing Places toilet. Shopping centres, transport hubs, visitor attractions and public venues are...
Choosing the Right Changing Table for Schools (SEND)
A Practical Guide to Hygiene Room Equipment for SEND Provision Across the UK, schools and academy trusts are reviewing their facilities following announcements from the Department for Education around school rebuilding and wider education estates reform. Alongside...
Education Estates Strategy 2026: The Future of School Buildings in England
In February 2026, the Department for Education published its Education Estates Strategy – a 10-year plan to improve school and college buildings across England. With more than 22,000 schools and colleges and around 70,000 buildings, the strategy aims to address ageing...
Changing Places: Swindon Health Hydro – Swindon
The historic Swindon Health Hydro is back. Reopened on 19 January 2026 after an extensive restoration, this iconic leisure destination on Milton Road blends Victorian heritage with modern wellbeing facilities. Originally built in 1891–92 for the workers of the Great...
Creating a Safer, Happier Bath Time with The Astor Kiva
A bright, modern bathroom featuring an Astor Kiva height-adjustable bath, creating a safe and comfortable environment for assisted bathing. When the family first contacted Astor Bannerman, their priority was to replace their existing height-adjustable bath, which had...
Ceiling Hoist Installation at St Bernadette’s Catholic Primary School, Birmingham
Project: Hygiene Room Hoist InstallationClient: St Bernadette’s Catholic Primary SchoolLocation: Hob Moor Road, Yardley, Birmingham, B25 8QLScope: Installation of an Astor OT200 Ceiling Track Hoist within a school Hygiene Room to help the setting better support pupils...
Ceiling Hoist Installation in a School Hygiene Room at Kings Heath Secondary School
Project: Hygiene Room Hoist InstallationClient: Kings Heath Secondary SchoolLocation: Kings Heath, BirminghamScope: Installation of an Astor OT200 Ceiling Track Hoist within a dedicated school Hygiene Room to support safe transfers and assisted personal care. Kings...
The Department for Education’s 5 SEND Reform Principles – and What They Mean for Schools
The Department for Education (DfE) has identified five key reform principles as part of its SEND and Alternative Provision (AP) Improvement Plan conversation. These principles underpin how education settings should support children and young people with special...
Changing Places: Woolwich Waves – Royal Borough of Greenwich
The vibrant new leisure centre in Woolwich – Woolwich Waves – represents a transformative moment for the community. Due to open January 2026, this state-of-the-art facility replaces the aging Waterfront Leisure Centre and is at the heart of a major regeneration scheme...
Multi-Room SEND Hygiene Facility Installation at Highfield Ely Academy, Ely
Client: Highfield Ely AcademyLocation: Downham Road, Ely, Cambridgeshire, CB6 1BDScope: Installation of four fully equipped Hygiene Rooms, including hoist-linked classroom access, showers, and a Life Skills area for older SEND students. Highfield Ely Academy is a...
Why Investing Early in Accessible Design Saves Money Later: The Lifecycle Cost of Changing Places and Hygiene Rooms
In today’s construction and design world, accessibility is no longer a “nice to have” — it’s a must. But too often, accessible hygiene facilities like Changing Places and School Hygiene Rooms are treated as an afterthought, added late in the build process or...
Changing Places at Cotswold Farm Park
We recently visited Cotswold Farm Park with Leo from Cool Access Consultancy and his carer Easter to explore the site’s Changing Places toilet and wider accessibility features. Located in the heart of the Cotswolds, Cotswold Farm Park is known for its hands-on animal...
DIY SOS: Helping Raffi’s Road to Recovery
We’re proud to have supported the BBC’s DIY SOS team in their latest life-changing transformation for eight-year-old Raffi and his family in Bracknell. After contracting E. coli, Raffi was left with brain damage and reliant on a wheelchair. The family’s home was no...
Team Member Tarnia Takes on Firewalk Challenge for Bereaved Children
Astor Bannerman’s Tarnia Venning-Rhodes is stepping well outside her comfort zone - and straight onto hot coals - to raise money for bereaved children and their families. Tarnia plays a vital role in building relationships with Occupational Therapists, Housing...
New Hygiene Room Guide: Helping Schools Create Truly Inclusive Spaces
Creating safe, dignified spaces for personal care is essential to making education accessible for all. That’s why Astor Bannerman has developed a brand-new Hygiene Room Guide for Schools - a free, practical resource designed to support everyone involved in...
Changing Places Hygiene Room – Herschel Building, Newcastle University
Client: Newcastle University – Herschel BuildingSector: Higher EducationLocation: Herschel Building, Newcastle upon TyneServices Delivered: Full Changing Places installation — design consultation, equipment supply, installation, testing, and commissioning The Herschel...