The theme for Disability Pride Month 2025 in July is “We Belong Here, and We’re Here to Stay,” which delivers a powerful and timely message – that people with disabilities are an integral part of every community. It actively pushes back against ableism, discrimination and bias against people with disabilities, and exclusion, reminding everyone that people with disabilities will not be erased, ignored, or pushed aside.
As we observe Disability Pride Month, CHP want to shine a spotlight on remarkable work carried out by our North East team over the past year, focusing on invisible disabilities.
Our North East Operations and Relationships Managers have collaborated to identify and address issues specifically affecting stoma bag wearers. They recognised a significant gap in facilities, for instance, the lack of shelves in toilets for patients to place their kit bags and no hooks to hang clothing or bags while changing their stoma. While “Not Every Disability is Visible” signs were already present in all accessible toilets across our sites, the North East team was determined to go further, ensuring building users with stomas were truly catered for.
Working closely with LIFTCo partners and using the available AccessAble Budget, the team successfully installed hooks and shelves in all accessible toilets across 26 North East sites. These modifications have significantly improved the suitability of these facilities for stoma bag users, resulting in 26 “Stoma Friendly Accessible Toilets” in the North East.
This initiative by the North East team is a testament to CHP’s commitment to inclusivity and accessibility, making a tangible difference for our colleagues and visitors with invisible disabilities. It perfectly embodies the spirit of Disability Pride Month and the impactful message that “We Belong Here, and We’re Here to Stay.”
Why is Disability and Inclusivity Still Important?
Here in the UK:
- Over 16 million people identify as disabled, making up one-fifth of the potential workforce.
- Each year, approximately 780,000 people develop a disability impacting their daily lives.
- Around 80% of disabilities are “invisible” – not readily apparent from physical appearance.
- Two-thirds of people admit to feeling uncomfortable talking about disabilities.
These are just a few statistics and everyone’s experience is different. However, they demonstrate the ongoing need to ensure CHP is seen as an inclusive organisation, both internally and externally.
Better facilities for patients support the Government’s aim to deliver more appointments within the community to stop unnecessary visits to hospital and make treatment more accessible. Small changes, such as stoma friendly buildings, create spaces that allow those who use them a safer space to visit for their healthcare needs. Moreover, it provides comfort when visiting a CHP building knowing that all their needs are met, removing the need to travel to hospital should a problem arise.
CHP’s Commitment to Disability Inclusion
In partnership with AccessAble, CHP launched the Disability Essentials course, and were pleased to see so many colleagues participate, with positive feedback highlighting its value in fostering understanding and different perspectives.
The Disability Essentials course equips CHP colleagues with the confidence and skills to effectively engage with disabled people.
Improving Accessibility for All
Using the AccessAble Best Practice Guides as a reference, CHP have focused on improving the experience for less able visitors.
Since the start of this project, CHP have invested over £600k in accessibility enhancements. CHP believes that its buildings should be at the heart of the communities it serves and freely accessible to all regardless of an individual’s circumstance.
Working with Colostomy UK
Colostomy UK exist to make a positive difference for anyone impacted by any kind of stoma or stoma surgery.
Founded in 1967, they became a registered charity in 2006, and they maintain their original mission to this day: to support people with stomas and those who care about them.
There are now over 200,000 people living with a stoma at any one time in the UK and their work is vital to creating a world where having a stoma presents no obstacles or barriers and carries no stigma.
Find out more about Buildings at the Heart of the Community
CHP’s Buildings at the Heart of the Community initiative aims to encourage local community groups and charities to make the most of our buildings by enabling the use of space in our centres to host health and wellbeing related events.
