NEW GENDER-neutral toilets at an Evesham youth centre have made young people feel more comfortable going to the loo, writes Lise Evans.
The £20k project to create six unisex conveniences was instigated and led by a group of young people who use the Ourside Youth Centre on Broadway Road.
It came about after some of the centre’s young users who were exploring their identity around sexuality and gender approached management to say having specific male and female toilets made it uncomfortable and difficult to use them.
The result was a three-year project to design and plan single user inclusive toilets to create safe and welcoming space for LGBTQ+ young people and visitors to the centre.
The group worked alongside other young people attending sessions to ensure everyone’s opinions were heard, creating an outcome which reflected a collective view on gender inclusivity.
The process allowed the young people to turn their vision into a reality, follow a process through to the end, see their design come to life and experience the value and benefit of hard work to feel proud and empowered.
Centre manager Bev Wride, said: “It’s clear that the toilet refurb means so much to the young people.
“They are really proud of what they have achieved, they have listened to each other and shared their own stories and developed an outcome that everyone was happy with ensuring that everyone feels comfortable, safe and included.”
The Ourside Youth Association is a charity dedicated to helping support young people in the community by creating an inclusive environment where their voices are heard. It is led by young people who believe that everyone should have a place to belong to.
Jessica Aldington, 16, added: “The toilets are so good. To plan and design them and for them to actually happen is unreal.
“They look great and it really makes a difference for us.”
The project is aimed at helping additional young people to explore their identity and realise their full potential, and anyone who wants to see the toilets or discuss the scheme can email through [email protected] to get in touch.
The scheme was achieved with funding from Wychavon District Council through the UK Shared Prosperity Funding and the National Lottery Community Fund with Vale Heating and Plumbing undertaking the refurbishment works.
