The fight for safer accessible loos never stops

Here at Euan’s Guide, we love reflecting on the incredible partnerships that help our small charity make a mighty impact.

We had the absolute privilege of being named Baillie Gifford’s Charity of the Year in 2024. It was a fantastic chapter for us, but what makes it even more special is that the connection didn’t stop when the official partnership ended.

The Euan’s Guide team was thrilled to see that our friends at Baillie Gifford are still out and about, actively supporting our work in Edinburgh. During their recent team volunteering day, the Baillie Gifford Loo Review Crew checked out accessible loos and submitted reviews on EuansGuide.com so that disabled people know what to expect when they visit. They were shocked at what they found in some loos.

Kat said: "The Loo Review team enjoyed the afternoon, but people were shocked by how few accessible loos there were. People also tried to untie red cords where possible, but there were quite a few situations where the red cord had been cut.”

As disappointing as it was to hear the team faced issues around finding safe accessible loos, it’s heartwarming to know that our small charity made an impact on the Baillie Gifford staff. Their continual support means a lot to our small team - knowing a partner maintains momentum and dedication to our cause is a great reminder of what we can achieve when we work together.

Why our Safer Toilets campaign matters

Accessible toilets are a necessity for many, but so often they’re unsafe - far too often, the red emergency cord is tied up, cut short, or tucked out of reach, meaning a disabled person can’t call for help if they need it.

Through our Safer Toilets campaign, we are on a mission to fix this.

You can order Red Cord Cards to carry with you and attach to cords that need a safety reminder at www.EuansGuide.com/SaferToilets.

More voices, better choices

Equally important is leaving reviews of accessible facilities on EuansGuide.com. When you review an accessible loo - sharing whether it’s clean, spacious, or has a correctly hanging red emergency cord - you give disabled people the vital information they need to leave the house with confidence.

Together, by distributing cards and sharing reviews, we can continue to raise awareness and make even more accessible loos safer.