Liverpool ONE Introduces Stoma-Friendly Toilets as Part of Five New Accessibility Initiatives for Purple Tuesday

10 October, 2025

Liverpool ONE Introduces Stoma-Friendly Toilets as Part of Five New Accessibility Initiatives for Purple Tuesday

In the run-up to Purple Tuesday this November — a global day focused on driving awareness and action around accessibility and inclusion — Liverpool ONE has unveiled five new initiatives designed to make the retail and leisure destination more welcoming to all. Liverpool City Region Partnership

Their latest efforts build on an ongoing commitment to accessibility, co-designed with input from people with lived experience and local accessibility networks. Liverpool City Region Partnership Below is a breakdown of what’s new — and why it matters.

Giavanni Cinque, Marketing and Campaigns Manager at Colostomy UK, said:

“Having access to stoma-friendly toilets can make the difference between someone with a stoma feeling confident to go out and enjoy life or staying at home through fear and anxiety.

“At Colostomy UK, we know that simple changes to toilet facilities, such as providing a shelf, hook, and disposal bin, give people dignity, independence, and peace of mind.

“Liverpool ONE’s commitment to creating stoma-friendly spaces sends a powerful message that everyone is welcome, and that hidden conditions should never be a barrier to taking part in everyday activities.”

What’s New at Liverpool ONE

1. Stoma-Friendly Toilets
   Specialised toilet facilities now include features such as a shelf, hook, and disposal bin to support people living with stomas. As Colostomy UK notes, such adjustments “give people dignity, independence, and peace of mind.” Liverpool City Region Partnership

2. Large Print Maps
   To aid orientation for visitors with visual impairments or reading difficulties, Liverpool ONE will provide large-print versions of its maps. Liverpool City Region Partnership

3. Weekly Quiet Hour
   Every Friday morning, participating stores will observe a “quiet hour” during which lighting, music, and in-store announcements will be toned down. This is aimed at helping visitors with sensory sensitivities feel more comfortable. Liverpool City Region Partnership

4. Free Sensory Bags
   A new rental scheme will make available sensory bags containing tools and items that can help individuals manage overstimulation in busy or noisy environments. Liverpool City Region Partnership

5. On-Demand Sign Language Interpretation (via SignLive)
   Soon, visitors will be able to access sign language interpretation on demand through SignLive at the Liverpool ONE Information Centre, supporting those with hearing impairments. Liverpool City Region Partnership

Why it Matters

• High prevalence of sensory and neurodivergent conditions
  A 2021 Liverpool City Region report estimated that 1 in 14 people in the region live with sensory impairments, and that 10–15% of the general population identify as neurodivergent (e.g. autism, ADHD, dyslexia). Liverpool City Region Partnership
  These initiatives respond to real and widespread needs — not edge cases.

• Removing hidden barriers
  Many accessibility challenges aren’t immediately obvious: for someone with a stoma, access to a well-equipped bathroom can be the difference between venturing out or staying home. Liverpool City Region Partnership The same applies to sensory sensitivities, or navigational challenges for those with visual impairments.

• Community and co-design
  Liverpool ONE is working closely with accessibility experts, advocacy groups, and individuals with lived experience via the Liverpool City Region Accessibility Forum to ensure these changes aren’t superficial, but meaningful. Liverpool City Region Partnership

• Leadership and example
  By doing this, Liverpool ONE sets a strong precedent for other large retail, leisure, and public spaces — showing that accessibility can be integral to design, not an afterthought.

Tips for Visitors & Businesses

• Visitors

  • If you have specific needs (stoma, sensory, hearing, visual, etc.), check ahead via Liverpool ONE’s website to see which accessibility services are available. Liverpool City Region Partnership

  • Feel free to ask the Information Centre about using the sensory bags or sign language service.

  • Use quieter times (e.g. weekday mornings) if noise or crowds are challenging.

• For businesses and other destinations

  • Start by consulting people with lived experience in your community.

  • Simple changes often have high impact (e.g. hooks, hooks + shelves in toilets; dimming music; providing large print or tactile materials).

  • Consider a “quiet hour” or sensory friendly time.

  • Think about how to integrate on-demand interpretation or assistive technology.

  • Track feedback and iterate — accessibility is an ongoing journey, not a one-time fix.

Looking Ahead

The new initiatives at Liverpool ONE illustrate that accessibility need not be compartmentalised or limited to “special” services: it can be woven into the everyday fabric of any public destination. As Liverpool ONE’s Place Strategy Director Donna Howitt said, these are “the next step in our ongoing commitment to enhancing visitor welcome and supporting our local community.” Liverpool City Region Partnership

As Purple Tuesday draws closer, Liverpool ONE’s example may inspire more venues to evaluate and improve their accessibility offerings. If your own workplace, business or local public space isn’t yet thinking along these lines — now is a great time to begin.