Lack of baby Changing facilities at the Olympic Park

[annmencap]

Hi Folks
I'm a grandma who visited the Olympic PArk Yesterday with my family including a 20 month old granddughter. We found the baby changing facilities near the Basket Ball arena shops disgusting. There was nothing to change her on in either of the so called baby changing toilets so we had to change her on the sandy floor on a plastic poncho. There was no clinical waste bin in either facility either so had to put a shitty nappy in a waste bin. We then asked a volunteer at the staff entrance nearby to get someone from facilities management to talk to us, Someone from security spoke to us but couldn't tell us who was in charge of this and didn't know there was no changing tables or bins and was equally disgusted, and said he would pass on our complaint. We also checked the baby changing facilities at Orbit circus and found the same lack of facilities. They should be ashamed of this lack of basic facilities and need to correct this immediately.
I was also disgusted that there was no easy way to raise such issues on the park. LOCOG should have comments/complaints leaflets around the park and at least one desk where people can complain easily.
In addition I work for Mencap and out of interest also checked the so-called disabled toilets. They were not Changing Places standard toilets, there was no adjustable changing tables nor hoists, so anyone who had personal care needs would not have been able to be changed either.This discriminates against disabled people. I am surprised that given they will be hosting the PAralympic games they have not taken this into account either. I told Locog Iwill be forwarding this email on to Royal Mencap and the Changing Places campaign and Mumsnet so suggested they get their act together now.
I have emailed them at [email protected]. other parents and grandparents should beware when visiting the park-don't know about other venues and let them know this is not good enough.

If the door says Baby Changing, then yeah, I would expect a changing table. Not unreasonable!

And there should be proper disabled facilities for the disabled public, at a place that is hosting the paralympic games!

Excellent facilities in the aquatics centre

Noticed baby changing and bins there

Think the facilities were fine and they didn't smell!!

Lott we went Sunday so they had obviously gone through the teething problems!

Oh my goodness, how did our parents ever cope? Back in the days when babies wore toweling nappies and changing rooms hadn't been invented, and we all survived! Imagine the hardship, changing babies on your knee, in the pram, on grass, and taking your nappy home. We have become a society where we expect everyone else to cater for our needs, taking no responsibility ourselves :(

Essentially though, I think YANBU to expect a venue that has been specially and quite lavishly constructed to host a mass-participation event, all about inspiring the next generation, and sold tickets for babies and toddlers, to provide adequate changing facilities.

It's just the way you're describing your expectations that might make you sound a bit U. I'd expect a changing table, sink and bin and for there to be enough facilities that there aren't huge queues, even when it's raining.

If changing facilities are unisex, not within loos (good), any feeding area needs to be separate, as those people self-conscious enough to be uncomfortable BFing in public probably won't want to share space with men changing babies. (I think feeding and changing should be separate anyway really, not a pleasant mixture and you don't want feeders locking people out of a changing facility for half an hour at a time).

I've heard it all now.

Not sure what yabu etc is. But anyway, sounds like some of you have low expectations, don't complain and nothing changes! If you are happy to take dirty nappies home that is up to you, but you could end up with a lot of smelly nappies in your changing bags after a day out. 25 years when I had babies I also changed them wherever on floors etc, I would have expected a basic changing table today to be fairly normal. As I said other venues may be better.

If you had a older child/adult relative with disabilities who needed to be changed while out, a) you phsically would not be able to get them out of their chair without a hoist unless you lifted them out- ruining your back, and even if you managed to do that you would have to change them on a floor. Where is the dignity and respect in having to do that in a public place?
Locog, like any publicly funded organisation, has its duties under the Equality act to make reasonable adjustments to its facilities, and appears not to have done so to enable people with disabilities enjoy the facilities like the rest of us.

I think Locog have done a great job in many ways, but it is not perfect, and needs to learn from its mistakes, as do all organisations, whatever their size. I'm working for 10 days as a volunteer with security and enjoying working with the military etc, and really excited about having the Olympics here, but that doen't take away my right to raise issues I am not happy with

Blimey - never go to Glastonbury. Your head would explode.

This is why every parent (and GP?) needs to know how to change a baby on their lap!

Regarding having to use a hoist - surely you would check things like that are available before you got there?

"you could end up with a lot of smelly nappies in your bag after a day out"

• I had two in nappies, and yes, sometimes at the end of a day out, we'd have a number of bagged nappies to dispose of when we got home. And the problem is??

Honestly, i think the poster upthread is right, we have become a nation of 'entitled' people who expect to never have to inconvenience themselves I the slightest. Previous generations would be laughing at us! Good grief, disposable nappies and nappy sacks are a recent invention. In the past, it would have meant rolling up a towelling nappy, bringing it home, then washing it by hand or in the twin tub. And a few years down the line we have people complaining about not having a bin to throw a disposable nappy in and a table......

I was at the aquatics centre and they had plenty of baby change places with tables.

I know all us super mums have managed to change baby's balanced on a railing with one arm tied behind our backs, blindfolded etc, etc. but I do agree somewhat with the OP that a specifically built 21st century venue should be fully kitted out with facilities for ALL. I don't think that is too much to ask for and I wouldn't bee too chuffed at having to change my baby on the floor of a loo regardless of whether I come fully equipped with a travel changeable etc.

Changeable = change mat

The London 2012 website says there is a Changing Places facility at every venue, and that the mobility services team will advise where it is. Certainly plenty of standard accesible toilets at Excel, and baby changing.

I was impressed by the range of enabling services on offer at Excel yesterday - including things like an audio describer as well as wheelchairs, scooters, hearing aid loops etc

I'm disgusted that having been to two events half of the seats were empty. I can't get disgusted over the fact that you didn't bother to bring a changing mat or nappy bags with you.

At the risk of sounding unpopular the Olympics are no place for babies. In session I went to had the pay your age tickets for children. I was graced with restless children who didn't give a toss about it. One sat with a video game the whole time asking when the could go home. Another was a toddler who was too young to sit for it but his father forced him to sit in his lap while the child screamed and kicked seats in front of him. If your.children aren't able to appreciate it leave them at home and don't spoil a once in a lifetime event for everyone else.

Flippant but hey, in response to the 'no place for children' comments, I think my baby added to the cuteness, didn't bother anyone and it was lovely to see families, with the age range adding to the general sense of a diverse and inclusive world festival. We had lots of 'ahh' looks and little chats, including from the security staff and various volunteers, which was lovely.

That was in the extensive 'standing and milling about' part of the rowing venue though, not a seated stadium.

I can't see a problem with taking young children along to events if they aren't going to be a bother to anyone, but I think it's very unfair to take kids who are are going to get bored and restless and cause a disturbance to spectators (or worse , the athletes)

There is an adult changing toilet, with hoist, at every venue.

Toilets and changing areas were clean around the park from what I saw. No queues and more than enough space. I wandered into one by accident with DD who doesn't need a changing table at the aquatics centre. Good job you don't have multiples as grandchildren. Try being out all day in a place without bins, you just pack the change bag accordingly and deal with it!

Oh and I meant to ask, what event is the 20 month old interested in?