MEMBERS of the congregation at St Paul's, Skelmersdale, in
Liverpool diocese, have twinned so many of their
own lavatories with those who needed them overseas that they are
now giving them away.
The scheme runs in partnership with the development agencies
Tearfund and Cord to provide better sanitation and clean water
where it is needed. For £60, they say, "people can help flush away
poverty by twinning a toilet at home, work, or school with a
latrine overseas". You then get a certificate to hang in your own
lavatory to say what you have done, and to encourage others to do
the same.
So keen on this idea are they at St Paul's that their harvest
festival collection - into a lavatory bowl, of course
(right) - together with a screening of the film
Flushed Away, raised £500 to launch a "guerrilla twinning
of toilets in the community".
After having certificated all their own lavatories, they drew up
a hit-list of other organisations, and offered them each free
certificates to put in their own lavatories, although they happily
accepted the donations that were frequently offered. The scheme
"went down a storm", I'm told, "and most of the recipients are now
talking about twinning the rest of their toilets".
The church Beavers, Cubs, and Scouts even suggested doing a
sponsored "Sit on the toilet" in the foyer of Asda.