New facilities for the disabled have opened at the Manx Museum thanks to funding from the Manx Lottery Trust.

Matched funding also came from the Manx Museum and National Trust charity to cater for people with multiple disabilities who may have difficulty using ordinary toilets, including people with illnesses affecting mobility, such as motor neurone disease and multiple sclerosis.

The facility includes a height-adjustable changing bench and overhead powered tracked hoist, an adjustable washbasin and centrally placed toilet with room either side for carers.

A ’quiet room’ has also been installed for visitors with heightened sensory anxiety. It can also be used simply for quiet contemplation.

The facilities were designed with advice from the Changing Places Consortium as well as disabled people and their carers, and will provide publicly accessible facilities so people with complex needs can stay out longer in the Isle of Man’s capital, visit the Manx Museum and enjoy the surrounding area.

Edmund Southworth, director of Manx National Heritage, said: ’The absence of suitable toilet and changing facilities can mean that people with disabilities are often limited as to the places they can go or the length of time they can spend there.

’Changing Place toilets can vastly improve quality of life and we are delighted that this facility, which will hugely benefit the island, is now available at the Manx Museum.

’We are very grateful to Manx Lottery Trust and the Trustees of the Manx Museum and National Trust for making this achievable.’

A grant of £25,147 was awarded to the Manx Museum and National Trust, with the remaining 53% of the total cost of £54,024 covered by its charitable funds.

Jonathan Hall, chairman of the Manx Museum and National Trust, said: ’The trustees were unanimous in their support of this project to create the island’s first and much-needed, publicly accessible changing place and delighted that it is now open.’

Sarah Kelly, chairman of the Manx Lottery Trust, added: ’It’s estimated over 300 residents and up to 1,000 visitors could directly benefit from the changing place every year. Our trustees recognised the value of having better public facilities and we’re delighted these are now available.’

There are only a few equivalent facilities at schools and colleges around the rest of the island, but these aren’t freely accessible to the public.