Advice

RADAR Key Scheme and Just Can’t Wait Card

The RADAR Key is part of the National Key Scheme (NKS) giving people with disabilities and health conditions independent access to locked public toilets around the country. It is a large, silver-coloured skeleton key that opens more than 10,000 locked disabled toilets in the UK.

Over 400 local authorities throughout the UK use the scheme including City of York Council. You will also find the RADAR scheme in many public, voluntary and, commercial organisations, such as: shopping centres, pubs, cafés, department stores, country parks, railway and bus stations, airports, motorway service areas and sports venues. You can find list of accessible toilets in York here.

You can purchase a RADAR key:

• at Visit York Information Centre. Keys cost £3.50
• online at Disability Rights UK. Keys cost £5.00 (ex VAT) including postage

You may be asked to provide confirmation or proof of your disability when you purchase a key, such as one of the following:

• proof that you are in receipt of a disability benefit
• proof that you are a Blue Badge holder
• a doctor’s letter giving details of your medical condition or disability

Just Can’t Wait Card

Several organisations do a version of the “Just Can’t Wait Card”. You can show these in shops, pubs, restaurants or entertainment venues and ask to use their facilities. The card doesn’t guarantee access to the toilet but using a widely recognised card has proven to help.

Some organisations have a charge for the card, while some are free. Here are some of the options:

Bladder & Bowel UK – Just Can’t Wait Card

Bladder & Bowel Community – Just Can’t wait Card

Age Co (owned by Age UK) – Vivactive Card

Crohns & Colitis UK – Can’t Wait Card is available for members

Macmillan – Toilet Card

Guts UK! – This Can’t Wait Card

Bladder Health UK – Priority Access Card

For Your Convenience

Originally called Take a Seat, For Your Convenience is a local initiative where businesses, signed up to the scheme, allow an older or disabled person to take a seat or to use their facilities without the need for them to be a paying customer.  

Over 60 businesses in York are taking part in scheme. They display a window or door sticker indicating which facilities are available for use in their premises. The scheme now includes information on: 

• Access: is there step free access 
• Seating: whether any seating has arms or not 
• Toilets: whether any toilets are accessible for wheelchair users 
• Baby Changing: whether there are baby changing facilities 

More information on businesses taking part in For Your Convenience is available here.