New Rotary club backs creation of area's first stoma friendly public toilet

* From left, Rotary's Mike Lade, Colostomy Girl Emily Hackworth and Connor Solon of Caffi Wilfa with the door stickers indicating that the disabled toilet there is stoma friendly.

The town's new Rotary club has teamed up with specialist volunteers to support the creation of the area's first stoma friendly public disabled toilet. 

Vale of Llangollen club worked with "Colostomy Girls" Emily Hackworthy and Rhianne Ball from Colostomy UK to have the toilet at Caffi Wylfa in Castle Road, Chirk designated as a place which has additional facilities for those living with colostomy or stoma.

A stoma is an opening on the abdomen that can be connected to either the digestive or urinary system to allow bodily waste to be diverted into an external bag. 

This may be necessary for a number of reasons from disease to conditions but it’s estimated that 200,000 people are living with a stoma in the UK today.

People with a stoma and a colostomy have additional needs when using the toilet. Even a simple day trip can be a potential source of anxiety when faced with the challenge of changing their colostomy bag when out and about in shop or restaurant toilets.

Project lead for the Rotary club Mike Lade said: “It should be very easy and cost very little to make disabled toilets more suited to those living with a stoma and would make such a difference to their lives.

"More information on the additional fitting like a small shelf, clothing hooks on the door, a bin and a mirror can be found on our club website under “Projects” or by simply contacting us for an email-able fact sheet. 

"In the case of the Caffi Wylfa disabled toilet, everything was well designed and everything required was already in place so well done to the Glyn Wylfa Development Trust.”

Mike added: “We very much hope that the town council, shop owners and restaurant owners will also get behind us on this project to improve people’s lives – locals and tourists alike.” 

* Vale of Llangollen Rotary meets at 7.15 for 7.30pm at Liberty Traven and Wine Bar, 20 Market Street, Llangollen LL20 8PS on Monday evenings.

More information is available on Face Book @valeofllangollenrotary, contacting Mike on 07803 038858, via email at valeofllangollenrotary@gmail.com or through the web site www.valeofllangollenrotary.com.