CHANGING ROOMS
Women’s
changing
rooms
Changing rooms play a
large part in poor sports
participation levels among
females and operators
need to take some tips
from the retail industry if
this trend is to be reversed.
Kath Hudson reports
A
few years ago, while heavily facilities were often to blame: 83 per Initiative (IFI), varying levels of accessi-
pregnant, I went for a swim cent said they wanted private changing bility are seen: “Not all facilities provide
at a hotel. Dressing in the cubicles and 56 per cent want hairdryers. features such as changing beds and
communal changing room af- “Women are now used to high qual- hoists, meaning some disabled people
terwards, with no place to hide, I noticed ity environments, such as shopping malls. have to change on the floor and some
the horrified expression of an eight-year- The retail market is very sophisticated accessible changing rooms are being
old girl staring at my belly. I’ve never felt in its approach to targeting women, used as store rooms.”
so self-conscious and didn’t go back. It we’re competing with them and wom- Robson says, although ideally that
seems I’m not alone. Many women in en are voting with their feet,” says Sue beds and hoists should be available,
the UK are naming poor changing rooms, Tibballs, CEO of WSFF. “Women are one of the most important elements in
– which offer no privacy, are unclean and demanding as consumers. In the past, making changing rooms accessible is to
don’t offer the facilities to make them- the sports sector has taken a one-size- provide unisex changing and toilet areas,
selves look presentable afterwards – as a fits-all approach, but now we need to as consideration and provision must be
reason to duck out of sport. differentiate. The design of the physi- made for disabled people with a carer
According to research from the cal environment is important. In sport of the opposite sex.
Women in Sport and Fitness Foundation it’s often not thought about sufficient- The IFI offers operators the option
(WSFF), just 3 per cent of females in the ly – particularly for those women whose of going for a voluntary accreditation,
UK play organised team sports and 80 cultures require them to cover up. Some which goes beyond the registration
per cent don’t do enough physical activ- sports clubs don’t provide basic amenities requirement levels of the Disability
ity to benefit their health. The changing like places to change, or toilets for wom- Discrimination Act. Its work is mainly
en to use. Guys don’t mind as much, but guided by three documents: Sport
with women cleanliness is important.” England’s Access for Disabled People,
the British Standard 8300: 2009 and
ACCESSIBILITY the Approved Document M of the
If changing rooms can be off putting Building Regulations.
to the general population, it creates a Feedback from disabled people is also
whole new raft of problems for people fundamental to the development of the
with disabilities. According to Claire Rob- IFI mark standards and the Changing
son, project, education and standards Places toilets campaign is leading the
co-ordinator with the Inclusive Fitness way in these developments.
If the locker rooms feel luxurious, users are more
likely to think they are getting good value for money
60 Read Sports Management online
sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 1 2010 © cybertrek 2010
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