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?

Well @girlfriend44 looks like you will have to choose something else!

People have answered that many times @girlfriend44 , if you read your own thread.
One reason is duration of the event (30mins vs an 8 hr day, makes a huge difference). Another is if it is something that people could reasonably do elsewhere, or a really niche event.

Many parks have public toilets. The organiser should be making efforts to find a space that is accessible and has a toilet.
You clearly live in a different area of the Country from me. Many, many LAs are in real financial trouble. Not even able to afford statutory services, let alone those that 'would be nice'.

Whilst the specific sport is irrelevant, if you want sensible answers then the type and scope of the event is relevant. Is it a small class for 20 people being run in an outdoor space, or is it a large organised event with 100s of participants? Because the latter would reasonably be expected to provide portaloos, the former wouldn't.

It's not just about me. You missed the bit where I said women in sport have said it's a barrier for women in sport, when there's no toilets.
People are encouraged to exercise, so it's a worthwhile discussion.

No toilets will be a barrier to some people. No event at all will be a barrier to everyone. If someone wanted to organise, for example, a low cost 30 minute outdoor tai chi session in my village there would be no toilets but it would make the activity available to people without much money or who couldn't travel to another venue. The alternative would be to hold it in the pub which probably wouldn't work at all. Or they could hire the village hall which would make it not low cost so exclude a different group of people.
So it really does depend on the context and the available alternatives as to whether it's reasonable or not.
If there are other alternatives for the activity with toilets then choose those instead. If there are other cost effective to run the activity venues then it's a fair shout to question it. But if the other venues aren't cost effective it still wouldn't be an inclusive activity because a different group would be excluded on cost grounds.

You missed the bit where I said women in sport have said it's a barrier for women in sport, when there's no toilets.

At big events or long training sessions, yes. Not at a charity event once a week for an hour or whatever it is, for most people.

I think it is relevant to state both the sport and the nature of the charity which holds these sessions.

Because it's far from clear whether the charity is one which promotes the sport, or if it has other aims, which are in part met by running an event of that kind.

So if for example, it's the local OAP club running a bowls session in the only park with a green (aim, bringing people together, avoiding loneliness, one of many social activities they run, small fee) it's quite different to a national sports charity running introduction/development sessions to promote the sport (where avoiding barriers to participation is relevant to the aim)

Duration of the activity is also v relevant

It is an ableist attitude from many on the thread of 'just don't go', so people with issues just miss out on the physical and mental health benefits of exercise (in general, not just at the OP's event)
No
You just find a different venue that suits you 🤷‍♂️
Presumably you wouldn’t be able to use that park for any purpose if it doesn’t have toilets, so why is it only an issue when some hapless exercise lover tries to set up a class in it?

It doesn’t really matter what they organiser thinks, though.
It’s an optional event, they’re not hauling op in there kicking and screaming.
The leisure centre she’s mentioned doubtless run plenty of events that suit her better.
She needs to choose one, and leave all the other participants to make their own choices too.

I'll leave this link here as I think it's relevant.

www.rsph.org.uk/our-work/policy/healthy-places/taking-the-p.html

@girlfriend44 I'm kind of with you in that there should be events held with access to a loo for all the reasons given in the link. I think approaching the charity and asking about provision of facilities for attendees, or asking if they will run a class at another venue that has toilets, is fine. It opens a conversation at the very least. Hopefully you won't get a dismissive reply like some on here have given.

Thanks to my own bladder/bowel issues, I haven't been able to go to beaches for many years. I have to research facilities before I attend any events, occasionally taking immodium or not drinking/eating to reduce the need for the loo. It limits my life and impacts my mental health. However, this thread has shown me there are items I can buy, that campers use, that may help me once again to visit a beach for the day, so I'm thankful to those that shared solutions rather than just berate the OP.

If an event doesn't suit me, I'll find something else that does.

Cost is also a barrier to women in sport. If they moved to a location with a toilet, it may well cost to hire. Therefore, some women would no longer be able to attend.

You could discuss it with the organisers, but they aren't obliged to find a place with a toilet. It's just one of many factors that could be considered when planning an event.

My youngest plays footie which involves visiting various playing fields often in local parks. There are never toilets so you get used to minimising your fluid intake and searching google Maps for the nearest toilets! (usually supermarkets!) unfortunately most park toilets have now closed due to budget cuts. These clubs are all run by volunteers and are not for profit.

I didn't miss the 'women in sport' bit op 😆

It's a charity event in your local park! That's all!

Wow. What an unsympathetic post. I do hope you never have a birth injury or become incontinent owing to cancer treatment, or old age. You’d be surprised how many young people are affected too.

But it’s true 🤷🏻‍♀️
If you need to be within arms reach of a toilet at all times, exercising in a public park is not for you.
It’s hard to state that sympathetically, it’s just a fact.

But if I did, I just wouldn't attend this session.

I wouldn't expect it to be cancelled for everyone else. Or moved somewhere just for me where everyone else may not be able to make it.

I'd go to a session that met my needs

Not if the public park has proper provision of lavatories. Which is the whole point of the thread!

No, The point of the thread is op wants them to change venues to somewhere with toilets and changing facilities.

Yes and if most parks and public areas, train stations and shopping centres had proper provision of lavatories as they should do, this wouldn’t even be an issue.

Well, that’s a different thread entirely, isn’t it? 🤦‍♀️

Not really - it's the best solution to OP's situation

Hypothetically, yes
But who’s going to make it happen anytime soon?
Let’s be realistic, fgs! 😆
There are no toilets at the park that this particular session will take place at, so op needs to accept that she’ll need to sit this one out, and find something more suitable at the leisure centre.
That’s it.

It’s not a particular “women” issue; most older people need the loo more often than younger ones. Older men need the loo most frequently.

HOWEVER you can’t pepper the whole country with toilets. As other have said, a large organised gathering merits portaloos but a small event lasting a short time cannot be expected to arrange provision.

Like @ToContiOrSequi my life is constricted by a bowel problem. I have to very carefully plan trips out. But I don’t expect to find a public convenience everywhere . That would place my needs above reasonableness.