Tottenham Hotspur Stadium becomes first ever ‘Fair Change’ venue
Sun 16 June 2024, 09:00|Tottenham Hotspur
- Club supports new campaign to make baby changing accessible to all parents and caregivers in public venues
- Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has nine fully accessible baby changing bathrooms available to all fans attending events
- Campaign, nicknamed ‘Bum Deal’ and launched on Father’s Day, is aimed at promoting parenting as a shared responsibility, giving Dads, uncles, grandfathers and male caregivers the same access to essential facilities as their female counterparts
On Father’s Day, Tottenham Hotspur is proudly giving its backing to a new campaign to make baby changing accessible to all parents and caregivers in public venues, with its stadium becoming the first ever ‘Fair Change’ accredited venue.
The campaign, launched by feminist non-profit Love & Power and nicknamed ‘Bum Deal’, is aimed at promoting parenting as a shared responsibility, giving Dads, uncles, grandfathers and male caregivers the same access to essential facilities as their female counterparts.
It is estimated that only 15% of public toilets in the UK have baby changing facilities accessible to all caregivers. A similar campaign to change legislation in the US, supported by musician John Legend, resulted in the BABIES Act mandating federal buildings to provide baby change, and New York City explicitly requiring baby change to be accessible to all caregivers.
As part of the Club’s continued drive to deliver fully inclusive facilities and fan experiences, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has nine accessible baby changing bathrooms available to all fans attending events, located in every stand.
They can be found at the following locations and identified by the below baby change symbol:
- West Atrium entrance
- Level 1, South (near the Beavertown Tap Room)
- Level 2, South, Block 250
- Level 2, North, Block 233
- Level 2, North, Block 234 (Away Section)
- Level 4, North, Block 417
- Level 4, North, Block 424
- Level 5, East, Block 522
- Level 5, West, Block 508
Baby changes can be accessed by using a RADAR key or by notifying a nearby steward.
Donna-Maria Cullen, Executive Director, Tottenham Hotspur, said: “As a Club that prides itself on diversity, equality and inclusion, our stadium becoming the first ever ‘Fair Change’ venue further promotes the clear message that parenting is for all and dispels the notion that changing nappies is solely the job of the female caregiver.
“We are extremely proud to be leading on this campaign and giving both Mums and Dads an opportunity to attend events at our stadium with their young children, safe in the knowledge that baby changing will never be an obstacle.”
Charlotte Fischer, Co-Director of Love & Power, said: “My children have had their nappies changed on car bonnets, on grass by pavements, or in private dining tables in pubs – none of which are particularly safe or hygienic - when my partner hasn’t had a baby change accessible to him, and I’ve had to change more than my fair share of nappies when they’ve been available but only in women’s toilets. For me it’s a sexist annoyance, a reminder of whose job an organisation thinks childcare is, but for gay dads, widowed dads, single dads, or dads who just want to be able to take their kids out on their own, it’s a real barrier to public space and a reflection of the lack of public support caregiving of any kind gets.”
Raymond Martin, Director of the British Toilet Association (BTA), said: “Thirty-two years ago my wife died in childbirth and I was a widowed father of a new born baby girl and a one year old daughter. Whenever we left home, I used to have to wait outside the female toilets and ask strangers for the opportunity to enter their facilities to change the baby’s nappy. It was humiliating. Both personally and through the BTA I fully endorse this campaign – I’ve experienced and supported it for thirty years. Love & Power have created a wonderful campaign for children’s health, dignity and safety as well as striving to provide greater social inclusion.”
For further information and to find out how you can support the campaign this Father’s Day, visit www.bum-deal.co.uk