Changing Places Facility - Beach Accessibility

🌊 Book the Changing Places Facility – Making Beach Visits Accessible for Everyone Sandown Town Council is committed to ensuring everyone can enjoy the beach with comfort, dignity, and confidence. Disabled people have the same rights to take part in beach activities as nondisabled people, and we recognise that beaches can present challenges — from navigating sand in a wheelchair to managing the sensory impact of open spaces. To support accessible visits, we now offer a fully equipped Changing Places facility, available to book in advance, along with two beach wheelchairs designed for use on the sand. These additions form part of Sandown’s wider beach accessibility project, launched with the support of Paralympic Gold Medallist Andy Cassell and Olympian Richard Jefferies. The project includes the Changing Places unit, a 50‑metre accessible beach mat, and a programme of inclusive activity delivered with partner organisations.

🛠️ What the Changing Places Facility Offers Our facility meets national standards and includes: • Ceiling‑mounted hoist • Height‑adjustable changing bench • Grab rails • Privacy screen • Adjustable sink It is located beside the public toilets at Eastern Gardens, with the accessible beach mat nearby to support easier access onto the sand. Booking guarantees exclusive use during your chosen time slot. 

♿ Beach Wheelchairs Available Two accessible beach wheelchairs can be booked: • Alongside your Changing Places session, or • Separately, if you only require a wheelchair for beach access Through work with The Wave Project and our lifeguard team, we also support the use of accessible equipment as part of our inclusive beach activity programme.

🌅 Additional Accessibility Support During peak periods, Sandown Town Council — with support from the Isle of Wight Council — provides extra beach matting to create a more stable route across the sand.