Changing Places Facility: IKEA Belfast

We are proud to announce that another Changing Places facility has been opened in Northern Ireland! The business which went the extra mile to make its premises fully accessible is the multinational group IKEA. 

About Ikea Belfast and the New Changing Places Facility

The IKEA store is located at the Holywood Exchange Retail Park, close to George Best Belfast City Airport. Installing a Changing Places toilet made IKEA Belfast the first sole retailer to provide these facilities in the city, following the example of two renowned shopping centres, Castle Court and Victoria Square.  IKEA chose Sync Living to execute this project because they wanted to rely on a local and experienced supplier that could be available at any time for support and consultation. 

IKEA and its brand values

IKEA Belfast is now fully in sync with the IKEA brand vision which is “To create a better everyday life for the many people”. The decision to install a Changing Places facility is also in line with some of the brand core values, such as togetherness, caring for people and the planet, and giving and taking responsibility. Ultimately, IKEA’s goal is to be a home-furnishing solution provider that can be accessible to as many people as possible. As a result, Changing Places facilities are just one of the measures they have taken throughout the years to ensure accessibility on different levels. The following free services are also offered in every UK IKEA store:

• Accessible parking places
• Standard accessible toilets
• Hearing loops
• Loan wheelchairs
• Assisted shopping
• Registered service dogs are welcomed
• Accessible website (keyboard navigation, font size, browser compatibility)

Comments on the Changing Places facility

Regarding the Changing Places facilities IKEA Belfast installed, Bob Van-Geldere, HR and Customer Services Manager, said:

“At IKEA, we pride ourselves on being accessible to the many people, regardless of ability or mobility. We know how important these facilities are to families and carers when they’re planning a day out, which is why we are proud to become the first stand-alone retail store in Belfast to offer the local community access to a Changing Places toilet facility.”

As a result, IKEA Belfast is now one of the nine stores in the UK equipped with a registered Changing Places. The other stores that made this facility available for their clients are located in Bristol, Coventry, Edinburgh, Exeter, Milton Keynes, Sheffield, Thurrock, and Tottenham.

Nic Bungay, Director of Campaigns, Care and Information at Muscular Dystrophy UK, commented:

“Muscular Dystrophy UK and the Changing Places Consortium are delighted that Ikea has committed to providing Changing Places toilets in all of their new stores. Installing these facilities in its Belfast store is an important first step and we hope the momentum will continue”.    

About Sync Living 

Andrew Smyth, our Changing Places specialist, was involved in the Changing Places facility for IKEA Belfast from the inception. Sync Living provided the necessary guidance to comply with the BS8300:2018 building standard for Changing Places along with the following comprehensive services: site feasibility, layout design, product selection, installation, and commissioning of the key equipment. Once the concept was approved by IKEA the whole process, from planning to implementation, took approximately 8 weeks.

Andrew worked side by side with IKEA to help them realize a facility that is perfectly integrated within their premises and that can be fully accessible to customers in need, being located on the ground floor. Andrew is satisfied with the final result of this Changing Places toilet. In fact, the process ran very smooth and the end result is to a high finish. Furthermore, he is pleased that IKEA decided to support Changing Places, join the so-called #revolootion, and install this facility for their clients’ well-being. 

Mark Spottiswoode, director at Sync Living, is positively impressed by the commitment that IKEA Belfast showed to the Changing Places cause:

“It is such a good feeling to know we helped realize the fabulous facility at IKEA. It also wonderful to hear such positive comments from individuals and Changing Places campaigners, and great to see Ikea promoting and raising awareness of Changing Places. With an increasing number of Changing Places facilities being installed across Northern Ireland, I hope we will be able to help more businesses to become more inclusive and to reduce social exclusion”.

Final Thoughts about Changing Places

Northern Ireland is making big steps to ensure accessibility to everyone. Belfast itself is a great example of social inclusion thanks to the presence of several venues provided with Changing Places facilities.

We hope we will help write many more successful chapters in the story of Changing Places across Northern Ireland and Ireland to ensure accessibility to our people and to truly enhance their living conditions inside our society. If you want more information about Changing Places, please contact Andrew Smyth via andrew@yncliving.co.uk

Before you go, don’t forget to check our case study about the Changing Places toilet we contributed to install at IKEA in Dublin!