THE Winchester Science Centre and Planetarium has launched a £30,000 public appeal to fund the installation of a facility for disabled people.

The campaign aims to raise money for a ‘Changing Places’ toilet, which is larger than a standard accessible one, with extra equipment such as a height adjustable changing bench and a hoist.

Finn from Twyford, who has cerebral palsy, his family, and Steve Brine, who is the Minister for Public Health and Primary Care, launched the campaign.

Jenny, Finn’s mother said: “The availability of Changing Places toilets gives families like ours the opportunity to experience the days out that many people take for granted.

“It shouldn’t matter where you are or what you’re doing – a person with a disability, whether that be a child or an adult, should have access to adequate toilet facilities.

“No parent should have the additional worry of potentially having to change their child on the toilet floor.”

There are increasing calls for more Changing Places toilets to be made available in the UK, and the Changing Places Toilet Bill is due to get a second reading in the House of Commons this month.

Mr Brine said: “This may seem like a small problem but it’s certainly not and it has a huge impact on children like Finn. Families with a disabled child should have exactly the same choices when it comes to a day out, or just a routine stop on a journey, as anyone else.

“I’m enthusiastically backing the Changing Places campaign and Winchester Science Centre’s fundraising effort in particular.”

Currently, there are only two registered Changing Places toilets in the Winchester district and Winchester Science Centre is bidding to be one of the first science centres in the UK to install one.

Ben Ward, centre chief executive, said: “Earlier this year, we invited families living with a disability to come to the Science Centre and advise us how our visitor attraction could be improved, and all agreed that installing a Changing Places toilet should be our highest priority. Winchester Science Centre is passionate about making science accessible to all.”

The public can also support the text to donate campaign by texting WSCA18 and the amount to 70070.