The Care Show Swindon has announced its keynote speaker for its autumn event as Becky Wall BEM who is the co-director of the prestigious Loo Of The Year Awards, a quality system which celebrates its 40th anniversary next year.
Becky will share the importance of ‘toilets’ and ‘washrooms’ with attendees and her mission to educate and empower organisations to increase revenue, customer and staff loyalty by taking care of a room we all need to use.
“We all need to use the ‘loo’ – it’s a room we will need to enter and spend time in several times a day. For some people a suitable, accessible and clean washroom is at the heart of their decision-making on a day out or in booking a hotel, going on holiday, or even taking a job role,” Becky said.
“For almost 40 years, we’ve been banging the drum that ‘washrooms’ are a vital part of every community, every building, every public space and can support wellbeing, inclusivity and the overall care of visitors, staff, clients or customers. I’ll be talking about our grading system – it’s not just about awards – and our mission to get everyone to take toilets seriously.”
The Loo Of The Year Awards was founded in 1987 with a mission of celebrating excellence in out-of-home washrooms, five years ago Becky Wall and her husband Charles (who had entered the awards with their mobile toilet business) took on the brand because they believed passionately that the mission should continue and evolve.
Since then the Loo Of The Year Awards has gone from strength to strength and is now recognised across the UK as a quality mark and this year the brand has been nominated for an international award for the team’s work.
Organisations from shopping centres, caravan sites, to hotels, pubs, cafes and popular tourist attractions enter and receive an unannounced visit from a qualified inspector across the summer months. Their washrooms are then rated from bronze to diamond against more than 100 criteria to measure excellence.
This ranges from cleanliness, accessibility to lighting and safety as well as ambiance and many more factors. Venues can also ask for a report so they can make improvements and improve their own grading. Each year the best are invited to attend an awards event to highlight those who have improved significantly or who have achieved excellence.
“The awards are a small part of our work,” Becky said. “We have a team of inspectors who are all committed to travel the UK visiting venues and grading their washrooms against 101 criteria. It’s a huge task yet it’s so important that people know where the best ‘loos’ are and recognise those organisations that care about their experience in the room we all need to use.”
Following a successful relaunch earlier this year, The Care Show Swindon will take place on Saturday 10 October at New College Swindon in partnership with SWITCH (Swindon and Wiltshire Innovative Technology Care Hub).
Visitors will have the opportunity to meet a range of care providers, wellbeing specialists and technology experts, and to explore the latest innovations designed to improve quality of life.
Director of the event Hannah Edwards said: “One of the highlights will be a keynote talk by Becky Wall BEM, co-director of The Loo of the Year Awards, who will speak about the importance of accessible, inclusive and high-quality public toilet facilities and the role they play in supporting dignity, independence and wellbeing for people of all ages and abilities. Becky will be with us during the day and will be giving her talk during the morning.”
The partnership with SWITCH at this event will also allow visitors to experience emerging care technology giving professionals and members of the public the opportunity to see practical solutions that are transforming health and social care services.
The Care Show Swindon was taken over by directors Hannah Edwards and Kevin Griffiths after both recognised how confusing it can be for individuals and families to navigate the care sector and identify the support available to them.
“Care touches every one of us at some stage in our lives,” said Kevin. “Whether it’s social care, wellbeing, financial planning, assistive technology or accessibility, we want people to leave our show knowing where they can turn for trusted advice and support. By bringing together such a diverse range of organisations, we’re helping people make informed decisions that can genuinely improve their lives or the life of a loved one.”
Alongside returning exhibitors from the care, wellbeing and financial sectors, visitors can once again meet therapy horse Vino who proved popular the team’s last event. For more information or to register, visit www.thecareshow.co.uk
Article from Scott Media
