A Birmingham-based horse riding stables has unveiled a new fully accessible changing place for disabled riders and their families.
The changing place at Summerfield Stables, Hall Green, is made from a converted shipping container supplied by Midlands based container conversion specialist, S Jones Containers.
A changing place is a completely accessible facility which provides sufficient space and equipment for people who are not able to use the toilet independently. The unit is one of the first stages in improving disabled access at the stables and will greatly benefit the lives of all the riders.
The changing place has been built in memory of a rider at the stables called Evie. Evie had a life limiting rare regressive condition called Zellweger disease and she sadly passed away in February 2020.
Evie’s mother, Michelle Thompson, began fundraising in Spring 2020. Just under £32,000 was raised for the project from donations from friends, family, a local charity ‘We are All Making a Difference’ and a grant from the Veolia Trust.
The modified container will create a safe space for disabled users to have access to toilets, shower and fully accessible changing facilities at the stables. Up until this point, the stables had no flush toilets, just the use of portable loos.
The unit needed to be 24ft to fit the required facilities, which is not a standard size, so the S Jones conversion team cut down a 40ft used shipping container to fit the available space. It was then fitted with a wide personnel door, specialist locks, shuttered windows and repainted in green.
Michelle, Evie’s mother, said: “Evie was a very happy, determined young person with a great sense of humour. She loved visiting the stables every week and riding on Bobby – nothing was ever too much trouble for the stables and they enabled Evie until the very end”.
“I am very grateful to everyone who helped me make my vision become a reality. I couldn’t have done it without the support of the team – it was a pleasure to work with so many wonderful people.”
Georgina Urwin, Director at Summerfield Stables, said: “We are really pleased with the fully accessible changing place. It marks the beginning of our wider project to make the stables accessible to all and be able to welcome more disabled visitors. We aim to fundraise to develop this further – please contact Michelle, Evie’s mum, on michelle@newpharma.co.uk if you would like to support the fundraising.
“We pride ourselves on offering riding sessions and pony care to increase the confidence and practical skills of young people, and Evie was no exception. She will truly be missed around the yard but her spirit lives on and the ‘Evie Project’ will no doubt benefit many more young people and families over the years!”
Halina Witek, Sales Team Leader at S Jones Containers, added: “This was a great project that we are proud to have been involved in. Modifying a shipping container is an easy way for organisations to improve disabled accessibility. Making changes to an existing bricks and mortar building can be costly, whereas a container unit is versatile and modular.
“It was a pleasure to help Michelle’s vision come to life on this project, and we hope that the converted container will help disabled riders and their families enjoy their time at the stables in the future.”
For more information about Evie’s Project or to support the fundraising at Summerfield Stables, please contact Michelle Thompson on michelle@newpharma.co.uk
For more information on container conversion, hire or sale, please contact S Jones Containers on 01922 741752 or email sales@sjonescontainers.co.uk
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