AN initiative in the dale to provide safe, private and clean toilet facilities in deprived communities across the world has resumed after the Covid-19 crisis highlighted the importance of good hygiene for all.
The Witham, in Barnard Castle, became the latest organisation to join the toilet twinning scheme – donating £60 to cover the cost of a latrine where none currently exists.
The arts centre’s toilet was “twinned” with a village in Nigeria.
Ian Blake, the dale’s toilet twinning champion, said he was pleased support for the scheme was continuing.
“In the last year, we have been so aware of the needs the pandemic has created, the focus has been on our own country, but the thoughts of many have turned to those without basic hygiene facilities,” he said.
“There has still been a desire to provide those facilities.”
He added: “Some two billion people in the world do not have a safe, private and hygienic place to go to the toilet, which means indignity and, at a local level, the spread of disease quickly.
“So for £60, a latrine can be built with some form of hand washing facility which gives people a secure and safe place to go to the loo.”
He added: “One of the key benefits of the scheme is that it improves health – and with that comes better income for families and increased access to education. It makes a huge difference.”
There has been strong support for the toilet twinning scheme in the dale since St Mary’s Parish Church, Barnard Castle, became one of the first to sign up.
Just prior to the first Covid lockdown last year, Barnard Castle achieved official town toilet twinning status and Mr Blake said about 40 organisations and individuals had now supported the initiative.
In addition to The Witham, Green Lane Primary School has added its support to the scheme. Anyone who would like more information on toilet twinning, or who would like to sign up can email Mr Blake – barneystoilettwinning @gmail.com.
