How is this even allowed (no toilets)

[girlfriend44]

A charity have a sporting session every week in a park but there are no toilets?
How's that even allowed ?
Anyone else think it's awful?
I've heard people say go behind a Bush, that's not nice or practical.

Shouldn't have too anyway, they should find a venue, where they have toilets and changing facilities?
Would you attend?

@girlfriend44 please can you tell us how long the activity is running for, even if you feel you can't say what it is?

You take hand gel - useful stuff to carry in kitbag/handbag/coat pocket anyhow, and you never know when you might want to clean up a bit when nowhere near facilities. Paper tissues similarly useful

They are a basic human need, to be able to use a toilet when necessary (not according to some other person's subjective opinion of how often that is.)

Yes, peeing and pooing are both basic human needs, but um... in your subjective opinion, how frequently should toilets be provided? Every 200m, every 100m?

I am not ignorant of medical conditions, or the fact that we all pee and poo. But thank you for illustrating how some people are incapable of adapting to their own requirements and/or entitled.

I don't quite follow your post here @TrashyPanda I said that many people had medical conditions. I didn't list every single one. And, with respect, yours was presumably sorted ( you write in the past tense about it) whereas some people have chronic conditions for life.

IF you did have issues then you should be far more empathetic to others.

I can't help you out on not seeing a loo in a graveyard. It wasn't a 'graveyard' (they are attached to churches) it was a cemetery and it was within half a mile of my house. It was often used as short cut for people through the town. The loos were there presumably for people attending burials or paying their respects at some point, as the nearest church was a little way away.

Most adults can manage without a loo for an hour or so!

There did use to be more public toilets, but as usual a minority of people have ruined them. Vandalism, anti-social behaviour…So toilets have largely become the responsibility of supermarkets ( as the handy department store loos have gone the way of the stores themselves) and pubs/cafes.

The problem is, how do you turn back the clock and make public toilets clean and safe? That would require 24-hr attendance. I complained to the local council about the toilets (in a park no less) being frequented during the day by gentlemen “socialising”. I was rebuffed with a shrug and “They move to the conker field in the summer.” Well, I’m certainly not letting ds go for a wee there.

You're being very defensive after being criticised for what you posted, but your attitude is still the same in your update!

Did anyone say there ought to be loos every 100 mtrs? No. So why make a point like that?

You say you aren't ignorant of medical conditions.
Okay so let's go with that idea.

How does someone with a bowel problem 'adapt'? If they want to exercise and need to change a colostomy bag- how? If they have IBS and need a loo immediately- how? If it's a man with prostate issues- what then? Or a woman with heavy periods?

Society is supposed to be more inclusive yet people with very simple, basic needs are being ignored.

Sorry but this is not about being 'entitled' and it's shame you see it that way.

Are toilets a compulsory thing in law?

I can't comment on the law, but IME if the event's of any size and in a public area the council will usually be involved at some point and they're likely to insist on what should be provided

Being a charity makes no difference, and again IME if provision can be reasonably expected then they just have to suck it up - and why shouldn't they if people are paying?

They are a basic human need, to be able to use a toilet when necessary (not according to some other person's subjective opinion of how often that is.)

Food and water is also a basic human need, should that also be provided at activities and clubs? What about people with eating disorders who need it?

You clearly know nothing.

My DH has prostate issues and needs the loo every 30 minutes.

what a stupid comparison.

You surely don't think this is the same thing?

I think this is one of those occasions where the volunteers running the event don't realise the issues that 50% of the population face. Expecting adult humans to all pee behind bushes enmasse is quite honestly disgusting. The only way you will change the organisation of events like these is by getting involved in the committee and helping to organise.

It really is the same thing! It is the person attending the activities responsibility to make sure they are fed and hydrated the same as it is their responsibility to make sure they have been to the loo or makes sure they know where the neares loo is and get themselves there.

It is not anyone's responsibility to make sure another adult has gone to the loo.

People are conflating two issues here. Yes there probably is a lack of public toilets, I know lots local to where I am have closed. We regularly get customers in the charity shop where I volunteer asking about toilets and we have to send them to Tesco which is about 5 minutes away as that's the nearest loo (although we do exercise discretion if they have one of the can't wait cards).

The other issue is whether a charity event should provide every facility which could possibly be required. Something like a 10k run through a public park, climbing Ben Nevis. Charity walkers regularly take on the West Highland Way which starts not far from me and is about 100 miles through the countryside. Loos are only available at pubs/hotels/shops along the way and are few and far between. So people who need the loo every hour are "excluded" from walking the West Highland Way for charity. And that's just the way it is, not everyone can participate in everything, and some events are not suitable for you.

@DozyDelia - if I go to the gym (ha ha ha) I expect to find a loo. If I go to a big organised event likewise, but if I go on a country walk or to a village I do not think I’m going to come across full facilities.

Also, you aren’t addressing the issues of building and maintenance. When I was in the US public toilet doors where I was had all been removed to deter this, that and the other. - awful for the ordinary patron

I don't understand your point. Go to an activity at a venue with the facilities that you require your particular body.

The fact I've had to point that out is unbelievable. Toilets are not going to be available in every single possible scenario that you or another person with a different body might want! Be adaptable to your own circumstances. It's not like there's only 1 toilet in existence.

I suspect there is a huge divide between rural and urban areas.

I'm fully on board with the provision of decent clean loos in urban settings, but we are lucky in the UK to have miles of beautiful countryside to enjoy.

Unfortunately, I suspect a requirement for charitable activities to be conducted close to toilet facilities would lead to fewer activities being available.

I have a medical condition where, if I need the toilet, I need it NOW!

I'd just not go to this activity and find a different one where they do have toilets.

Exactly. Because your condition unfortunately means it's not suitable for you. You're not stamping your foot and pouting and saying it's not FAIR and they should be providing toilets for you.

This thread reminds me and is very similar to the retractable shower head thread.

What @Helendee said. People forget about the many people with bladder and bowel issues. Are they not supposed to leave the house or attend activities if there's no facilities? This attitude is v disablist..**

Obviously.

If you know there are no facilities, then don't go. Go to an alternative one where there are facilities.

It's impossible for there to be everything for everyone, everywhere. And to expect that is unrealistic.

Should the charity not continue this at all, for anyone, just because there are no toilets that some people may need?

And please don't say that they should do it elsewhere where there are toilets because what if that isn't possible? And then what about the people who go to it where it is but don't have the means to go to it elsewhere? Why would it be ok for them to then be excluded?

Yeah, I had a total hysterectomy, which removed the fibroid, but left me with bladder issues, so don’t bother to presume, thank you very much

i refer to graveyards as a term for burial places. And I’ve never seen a loo in any of them.

You can't always hold every single event in a location which is accessible to absolutely everyone. If the park is the most suitable location for something and there isn't toilets/cafe etc then that's unfortunate but sometimes that's the only practical way to do things.

There is a genuine issue with public toilets in the UK and (surprise!) a lot of it is down to the Tories slashing funding for local councils and generally being shit (sorry) at running things. https://www.theweek.co.uk/public-sector/960428/loos-lose-the-demise-of-public-toilets-in-the-uk

It does matter because it makes life a lot harder for a lot of people.

But it really really really isn't the charity's fault.