A SKIPTON cafe owner is calling on organisations in the town to help him go some distance to reducing toilet poverty in the world.

Michael Bourne, who runs Steep & Filter vegan, vegetarian and eco-friendly cafe, in Otley Street has signed up to the pledge for Skipton to become “toilet twinned” in time for World Toilet Day on November 12.

Toilet Twinning is a water and sanitation initiative. By donating £60 to twin your toilet you can help those in desperate poverty have access to a proper latrine, clean water and the information they need to be healthy.

In return you get a certificate with a colour photograph of its twin and GPS coordinates so you can look up your twin’s location on Google Maps.

“I am hoping other local businesses, churches, community groups and education centres will get involved in their own way.

“It only needs 20 organisations to register for Skipton to become an official toilet twinned town,” said Mr Downing.

“Individuals are welcome to twin their own loos if they wish as the money will all go to the charity toilettwinning.org, though it is organisations and business registrations which will count towards the twinning total.

“These same businesses and organisations could do small fundraisers or raffles to raise the money and get people involved. We are making a donation from the sale of each coffee to the fund.

“As a business which has green ethics I think it is an important cause to help provide basic toilet provision and education for others in less affluent countries,” he added.

The charity states the £60 will go towards an education process that involves relationships, community meetings and workshops.

A charity spokesman said: “For many communities, hearing about the link between sanitation and health is a revelation.”

More details about how to register can be obtained from Mr Bourne at: steepandfilter@gmail.com

The initiative is also being posted on the Steep & Filter Facebook page.

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