I am delighted that Paralympic World Champion Hannah Cockroft MBE DL and European Champion Nathan Maguire (pictured) have opened a new changing facility for disabled children and adults at the Yorkshire Event Centre in Harrogate.
The iniative, to which I gave my full support, was spearheaded by the North Yorkshire Chairman of the Special Olympics, Andrew Newton, who lives in Thirsk and whose daughter, Aniela, has severe cerebral palsy and needs to be changed during any day away from home. Mr Newton said the opening of the new permanent facility in the Yorkshire Event Centre was “fantastic” and will allow more visitors to enjoy the Great Yorkshire Show as well as other events at the Showground. He added: “I would like to thank all those involved in this project who once the need was identified, acted quickly to ensure this facility was built. Families like mine will now be able to enjoy the Show without the worry of having to find a “quiet” place to change our daughter. Rural communities and farming are already extremely difficult for those with mobility issues and the general lack of access and facilities around the country mean that those with these challenges become even more isolated. The Showground is now removing one of these barriers and I am sure that many more will be able to enjoy events at this already highly accessible Showground.”
I would like to congratulate Andrew and everyone else involved in making this happen. Andrew started the Place to Change project in May 2018 at which time there were no Places to Change at any attraction in North Yorkshire, with only Council-provided ones at a few locations. This meant many disabled people would be unable to visit or perhaps just spend a very little time anywhere before they needed to leave. He has been campaigning for additional facilities across the region and I have been very pleased to give him my support.
Reg Horner, who is also from Thirsk and was at the opening after lobbying for places to change for his 14-year-old son, said “The changing place will be of great benefit to all disabled people who previously have not been able to attend the showground as no such facility was available. It will be a first class plus point for a first-class event like the Great Yorkshire Show in enabling all levels of society to enjoy their days out.”
Nigel Pulling, Chief Executive of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, said: “We have listened to our visitors and are delighted to now offer a Changing Places facility. This has been a significant investment for the Yorkshire Agricultural Society which we feel is important in ensuring we can make the Great Yorkshire Show and other events held at the Yorkshire Event Centre and on the Showground are accessible for everyone.”
I hope this will lead to many more initiatives like this which will allow diabled people to access and enjoy a much wider variety of events.
