A NORTHWICH rugby club has launched a fundraising campaign to help it provide inclusive facilities for women and disabled people.
Winnington Park Rugby Club is hoping to raise £13,000 improve provision of inclusive toilets on the ground floor of its Burrows Hill clubhouse.
The club, which was built with changing rooms and toilets to cater for men, has already converted some facilities to provide a separate shower block and changing room for women.
Now they are looking to convert a ground floor store room into a disabled accessible women's toilet with baby changing facilities.
Club vice-chairman Dave Snasdell said: "Rugby clubs have moved on with inclusivity and ladies teams, and we need to upgrade our facilities to accommodate that.
"This project would create inclusive facilities for the development of rugby and assist players, spectators and other users of the clubhouse who presently have to use the first floor ladies toilets, which are not currently disability compliant.
"The project will support all who use and visit the club in accessibility to basic modern essential facilities.
"We want to aspire to have appropriate toilet facilities so women and those with disabilities are not deterred from enjoying the club experience."
Winnington Park RFC, which has more than 1,000 members, currently has two girls teams, a ladies team and many mini and junior female players.
Dave added: "The project will bring further inclusivity to the rugby game to promote the growing appetite for female rugby at all ages in the community.
"It will bring the opportunity for other people in the community who want to visit the club to not worry about not having suitable facilities to use for the basic needs in life.
"It will support the club in aspiring to have other community groups use the facilities not just for rugby but other sports and community activities.
"We already support community groups including a cycling club, Brownie and Guide Groups, baby toddler group, guide dogs training for the blind and a hockey club."
An online fundraising page has been launched to help the club bring in money to realise the project and they will be looking to apply for a council grant in the coming months.
To help support the club, you can donate here: spacehive.com/wprfc-accessible-toilets-for-all
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