Monday 9th November 2015
London

Directly following our latest management meeting, held in Westminster, we were delighted to meet with Mr Jack Sim the founder and CEO of the World Toilet Organisation. Many of you will remember that in 2005 the BTA hosted the World Toilet Summit in Belfast – the first and only time that it has been staged in the West. This event brought over 400 delegates from over 30 countries to the UK to discuss and debate toilet related issues and new technologies.

Jack was in the UK to visit and give lectures at both Oxford and Strathclyde universities. He holds a professorship in environmental studies and was speaking to students on the social and economic impacts of sanitation and hygiene issues on developing countries, business and the populous.

We had an extensive opportunity to hear about the work of the WTO and were able to confer some of our development plans for the coming year. He was excited to hear about Toilet Map and the exciting work that we are doing with Mencap and Pamis to develop this Pilot project. Additionally we spent some time discussing the difficulties that the BTA has continued to experience trying to get the government to recognise the fact that toilets are not about Waste Management but in reality Health & Well-being, Equality, Social Inclusion and personal Dignity.

Jack was astounded to hear that an estimated 50% reduction in public provision has occurred in the last 10 or so years. “where are these people going” he asked and we discussed Community schemes and Private providers. However, he recognised our concerns that independent public provision is major necessity for a transient nation and outdoor workers. Opening times are usually greater and facilities are usually visible from the moving vehicle.

He asked about street urination and defecation and we had to confirm that the incidence of this disgusting practice is now being increasing reported. “You cannot allow the UK to continue to loose its fantastic reputation as the founder of modern sanitation.” The WTO continues to wage a constant fight for the rights of over 2 billion inhabitants who have little or no access to fresh water or proper sanitation. “Don’t tell me the United Kingdom is going to slip backwards into a third world position where disease and sickness is rampant from the viral infections transmitted from dirty streets” He has agreed to write to our PM & the government outlining the absolutely disastrous path we are currently treading if closures do not cease.

We have asked for the WTO to consider granting us an opportunity to host a future summit – perhaps between 2018 – 2020. In principle Jack was extremely keen for this to become a reality and the BTA management team will now consider and debate this possibility. It is expected that he event would be set for London and we would need to secure some sizable sponsorship partners to cover the considerable costs that could be expected.

New BTA Logo announced by Management Committee

After around fifteen months of research, consultation and deliberation the BTA Management Advisory Committee has finally selected a new corporate logo to help the BTA update its image, appeal and visibility. As with the old image the new logo will very quickly become recognised as an industry standard.

Extensive testing and questioning of the friends, colleagues, the public and other interested parties brought to light a number of changes that needed to be addressed. Concern was raised that the current logo seemed to be non-inclusive as it clearly showed; a man holding a child’s hand, a single wheelchair user and a female changing a baby. The association works and campaigns for an ever increasing number of user groups and so it was agreed by the committee that we should no longer use an image that only highlighted a small fraction of the groups we endeavor to support.

The working and design criteria that was set then was to recreate a logo and offer up an image that was:

• easily recognisable and quickly identified – as before
• carried a simple strap-line message
• modern, clean and smart
• could be easily recreated on all media
• would allow future merchandising

The original strap-line considered was “At your Convenience” but this was recently superseded by “For your Convenience” offering the reader or potential customer a marketing opportunity to bring the BTA in to help with toilet related problems and dilemas.

Above is the final concept design that was selected and agreed by the Management Committee and this image will now be attributed to all future printing and design publications. The new design will be systematically incorporated into the organisations marketing materials over the next few months.

The previous logo will remain protected and be maintained in house for record and reference purposes.

Thursday 19th November 2015

The World Toilet Organization was founded on 19 November 2001 and the inaugural World Toilet Summit was held on the same day, the first global summit of its kind. They recognised the need for an international day to draw global attention to the sanitation crisis – and so they established World Toilet Day on 19th November. WTD has continued to garner support over the years, with NGOs, the private sector, civil society organisations and the international community joining in to mark the global day, and it continues to promote global discourse and debate on toilets and sanitation.

World Toilet Day is THE day for action. It is the day to raise awareness about all the people who do not have access to a toilet, and the urgent need to end the sanitation crisis. And it is the day to stand up (or sit down or squat if you prefer) to do something about it.

Why Do We Need A Day For Toilets?

The ‘silent’ sanitation crisis is a ticking time bomb which affects billions of people around the world.

When the World Toilet Organization was founded in 2001, the subject of sanitation received little media attention and it was severely neglected on the global development agenda.  Sanitation has become more of a priority for world leaders in the 14 years since the World Toilet Organization was founded, however the current level of prioritization is still far from what is needed, given the scale and impact of the sanitation crisis. It’s time for toilets to be treated as an urgent global priority.

What’s So Urgent?

• – 1 in 3 people on this planet still don’t have access to a clean and safe toilet.
• – 1,000 children die each day due to poor sanitation.
• – And better sanitation supports better nutrition and improved health, especially for women and children.

We can’t wait while a lack of access to sanitation affects health, education, gender equality, nutrition, the environment and the economy! And in the words of WTO founder Jack Sim, “What we don’t discuss, we can’t improve.” We need to continue to address the taboo nature of toilets and shine a spotlight on sanitation each World Toilet Day.

The Impact 

World Toilet Day is celebrated globally by NGOs, UN agencies, the private sector, civil society organisations and the international community. In 2013, a joint initiative between the Government of Singapore and the World Toilet Organization led to Singapore’s first UN resolution, entitled “Sanitation for All”, calling for collective action to address the global sanitation crisis through the commemoration of World Toilet Day. The resolution was co-sponsored and adopted by 122 countries at the 67th session of the UN General Assembly in New York. On July 24, 2013, World Toilet Day on 19 November became an official UN day. Each year WTD calls on the global community to do more to address the sanitation crisis.

How to Raise a Stink for UN World Toilet Day

Sustainable sanitation is a matter of dignity, equality, and safety, and is crucial to improving the health and wellbeing of one-third of humanity. So what can you do to help make ‘sanitation for all’ a reality this World Toilet Day? Whether you want to raise a stink and build awareness of the sanitation challenge, advocate for change, fund raise for us, hold an event, or join an Urgent Run, we want you to celebrate UN World Toilet day in a way that suits you best. Here are just a few ideas on how you can join the global ‘movement’ and be a part of the change.

The Urgent Run

The Urgent Run is World Toilet Organization’s annual event for UN World Toilet Day to call for urgent action to end the sanitation crisis. You can be part of this global run by: organising  or joining an event near you. Join the global Urgent Run, visit www.urgentrun.com

Fundraising in a Flush

Do you want to fundraise for our crucial sanitation projects? The Fundraising in a Flush guide is packed with useful tips and resources to make your UN World Toilet Day a great success. Or you can put your own creative ideas in motion for something meaningful and impactful.
Download the Fundraising in a flush guide.

Raise a Stink

The “Raising a Stink for Sanitation” Advocacy Pack provides information about the sanitation challenge, and some suggestions for how you can raise a stink for sanitation in your local area.
Download the Advocacy pack

Invest in Sanitation

One-third of the world’s population still lacks access to adequate sanitation. Every dollar donated to World Toilet Organization for UN World Toilet Day goes a long way. You can fuel the World Toilet Organization’s efforts in advocacy, education, capacity building, and social enterprise projects by making a donation here.

UN WORLD TOILET DAY 2015

The theme for World Toilet Day 2015 is better sanitation for better nutrition, which draws attention to the need for better sanitation to improve health and nutrition for everyone, everywhere. Visit the official UN World Toilet Day website to find out more about what’s happening around the world how you can get involved. Read up on why the UN adopted World Toilet Day with the ‘Sanitation for all’ Resolution.

Start at School

Schools can join the fight for sanitation for all by engaging students with UN World Toilet Day. If you want to plan activities and projects around UN World Toilet Day that students could be a part of, there is a specially crafted “Talking and Teaching Toilets” guide packed with activities for students.
Download the Schools Guide.

Share on Social Media

Join the global movement for toilets and sanitation for all, and raise awareness by posting on Facebook, Instagram, Google+, posting a Vine or tweeting this World Toilet Day. Raise your voice to call for action and use the hashtags #WorldToiletDay and #UrgentRun. And check out Facebook or Twitter for inspiration and content you can share. Together we can make a big splash this World Toilet Day!

Talking Toilets

What better opportunity to get conversations ‘flowing’ about the sanitation crisis than UN World Toilet Day?! Talk all things toilets and sanitation with your friends and family members. Help break the ‘toilet taboo’: have a conversation, send an email, tweet, send a text, post to Facebook, and raise awareness of the importance of action on sanitation.

Tell us what you’re doing

We’d love to hear how you will raise a stink to commemorate UN World Toilet Day on 19 November. Share what you’re doing: tweet @worldtoilet, email the WTO at online@worldtoilet.org or us at enquiries@btaloos.co.uk

BTA Chairman featured on BBC TV.

Jasmine Wilson, Head of Cleaning Services at Ceredigion County Council, was  featured on a recent TV series of four programmes transmitted on BBC Wales called Cardigan Bay Coastal Lives

Viewers will be shown a day in the life of Jasmine and her team as they continue on their mission to achieve the highest hygiene standards possible in the county’s public conveniences. Over the years Jasmine and her team have won many awards, primarily 18 Platinum Awards and 12 Gold Awards for the county’s facilities.

On her experience of taking part in the TV series, Jasmine said: “I am pleased to have been involved and to showcase both my own and the team’s commitment to our profession. I hope the viewers will have the opportunity to see what we achieve in our daily work, and to appreciate that it adds to their experience and comfort of living in or visiting our beautiful county and coastline.”

During her career at the council, Jasmine has received numerous prestigious awards and honors for her commitment to her field. In 2012 she was the recipient of a BTA Lifetime Achievement Award . Jasmine has been a member of the BTA Management Advisory Committee for several years and she became the current chair of the Association in April 2015.

Cardigan Bay Coastal Lives follows the rich and varied lives of some of those living along the coastline.

The series aired on:
Tuesday,   3rd November;
Thursday, 5th November;
Tuesday,   10th November;
Thursday, 12th November.