On World Toilet Day, a survey by Tearfund* asked people in the UK about their loo habits, as part of a new Toilet Twinning campaign to flush away poverty. The results may surprise you!
Escape room: 62% have used the loo as an excuse to escape for some peace and quiet. More than a third of parents say they use it to take a break from their kids, and 28% of people go to avoid work or colleagues.
Loo with a view: 13% of 16-34-year-olds surveyed have taken a selfie on the toilet
Phone on the throne: 43% of people say they’ve texted from the loo, 27% admitted they make or take calls, and 40% scroll on social media
The poll also addressed more serious issues, such as whether people had ever struggled to find a toilet. This reflects the fact that 1.5 billion people—almost a fifth of the world’s population—don’t have access to their own toilets.
- 70% have been unable to access a toilet in a public space, mainly due to it being locked or out of order. For people with a disability, that figure rose to 77%
- 61% have had to go to the loo outside or in an unusual location because they couldn’t find a toilet – with two thirds of those opting for the bushes
Graeme McMeekin, Tearfund’s head of audience engagement says: “Globally, the toilet crisis is urgent. People are getting sick and even dying simply because they live too far from clean water or a decent toilet. A thousand children die every single day from diseases related to unsafe water, sanitation or hygiene. That’s nothing to laugh about.”
As Christmas approaches, Tearfund urges people to give a life-saving gift by twinning their toilet. It’ll be a present to remember and it only takes moments to order at www.toilettwinning.org – perfect for those last minute gift emergencies.
So don’t let your loo be lonely this Christmas; find its perfect match and help a community transform its future.
For more information about the work of Toilet Twinning and Tearfund, or to donate, please visit www.toilettwinning.org or www.tearfund.org