Glasgow portaloo at SWG3 brings IBD into the spotlight
But not for the usual reasons—this one has been transformed into a powerful awareness campaign for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Launched by the Catherine McEwan Foundation in partnership with creative agency MadeBrave, the installation marks World IBD Day on May 19 and aims to spotlight what life is really like for the thousands of Scots living with IBD.
READ MORE: Disco diva stuns fans with surprise appearance at huge Hydro gig
From the outside, it looks like your average portaloo. But step inside, and you're met with an entirely different experience: a cinema-style seat, walls covered in eye-opening facts, and a short film featuring heartfelt messages from DJ George Bowie, Callum Beattie, Robyn Red, and Starsailor.
Callum Beattie puts it plainly in the video, saying: 'Do you know what really sucks? There are people who want to be at the festival but they're stuck inside yet again.
"Not because they didn't want to be at the festival, but because of Crohn's and Colitis — their body just says no.'
(Image: Supplied)
IBD, which includes Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, affects more than 1 in 100 people in Scotland, with symptoms ranging from chronic pain and fatigue to anxiety and the need for long-term treatment or surgery. Despite its prevalence, it remains widely misunderstood.
Charity founder Derek McEwan, who set up the Foundation in memory of his mum Catherine, said the installation is designed to get people thinking differently.
READ MORE: 'Wildly excited': Date revealed for award-winning musical's Glasgow premiere
He said: 'IBD is a battle for those who live with it, as their families.
'My mum lived with severe Crohn's for most of her life. I grew up in waiting rooms. She never once complained, but I saw how hard it was.
'Even things that are meant to be fun, like going to a music festival, can become a source of stress. Many people with IBD just don't go.
"The fear of flare-ups, access to toilets, and the planning is exhausting.
'We created this space to help people stop, think, and understand. For some, a festival loo is something to avoid.
"For others, it's the reason they miss out entirely.'
The campaign follows last year's headline-grabbing giant toilet roll billboard in Glasgow and continues the Foundation's mission to challenge stigma, fund research, and support those affected across Scotland.
Want to help? Visit www.catherinemcewanfoundation.com or text IBD to 70085 to donate £5.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
44 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Incredible moment teen surfer takes on massive wave in spectacular stunt
Robyn Larg entered the record books with her incredible surf session A SCOTS teen became the youngest Brit woman to take on the world's biggest waves. Fearless Robyn Larg, 18, faced the 25ft surf head-on in Nazare, Portugal. Advertisement 3 Robyn Larg was the first Scots woman to take on the world's biggest waves Credit: instagram/benlarg 3 Fearless Robyn Larg out on waves as high as 25ft Credit: instagram/benlarg 3 Robyn with brother Ben during the record breaking surf session Credit: instagram/benlarg She managed it days after her brother Ben came third in the world championships at the famous surf spot. A newly released video shows the heartstopping moment she entered the record books as the first Scots woman to surf at Nazare. Robyn said: 'That was amazing.' The entire operation was a family affair with dad Marti eagerly watching on. Advertisement Before they headed out the protective father told Ben: "You look after her, right." On his Insta Ben, 20, said: 'I had a really good winter season this year but I think my highlight was taking my sister Robyn for her first session at Nazare. 'We had a great team of people. She was a natural.' Robyn and her brother were taught to surf by their dad on the Isle of Tiree, Argyll. Advertisement Ben has gone on to become a champion and travels the world with the Red Bull team. He's inspired his sister to get involved and she headed out to Portugal to take on the beautiful but deadly waves. I tried Scotland's only inland surf resort - I struggled to stand up but it was an amazing experience They waited days for the conditions to be right and she scored a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Dad Marti, 52, said: 'I was just buzzing for her. She was grinning from ear to ear. Advertisement 'As the days passed I think she put a fair bit of pressure on herself and was maybe getting a bit of cold feet. 'But her brother built her confidence up and it was just amazing to see her out there.' Marti told how his kids have become names in the surfing world despite growing up on a Scots island with no surf community. He said: 'It's remarkable because there is not much of a background of surfing here. Advertisement 'They're a bit of an anomaly because usually you need a big surfing team around you. 'But they've made it through pure, natural talent. They are absolutely smashing it.' Robyn is set to compete for Scotland in July at the European Surfing Championships. While Ben is currently in Indonesia and is expected to have a bright future in the sport. Advertisement But for Marti every competition is nerve-wracking. He said: 'I am buzzing for them. But it's pretty dangerous and the consequences can be severe if something goes wrong. 'You rely on the people around you to keep you safe and get you out of trouble. Thankfully Ben has got a great team around him.'
Scottish Sun
16 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Star of iconic TV show spotted at popular Scots restaurant
Tommy Flanagan, who starred as Filip 'Chibs' Telford in Sons of Anarchy, dropped by Caprese Don Costanzo for a bite to eat SPECIAL GUEST Star of iconic TV show spotted at popular Scots restaurant Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE star of a legendary TV show has been spotted dining at a popular Glasgow restaurant. And it's not the first time the actor has dined at the eatery in recent times. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 2 Sons of Anarchy star Tommy Flanagan returned to Glasgow's Caprese Don Costanzo Credit: CapreseDonCostanzo/Instagram 2 The Glasgow-born actor has appeared in several big-budget movies and TV shows Credit: Getty Tommy Flanagan, who starred as Filip 'Chibs' Telford in Sons of Anarchy, dropped by Caprese Don Costanzo for a bite to eat. It is the second time in less than a month that he has visited the Italian eatery on Woodside Crescent. Flanagan delighted the staff when he went there for a meal on May 25. And the veteran star, 59, was back for more Mediterranean treats last week. Sharing a picture on social media earlier, staff wrote: "Great to see Tommy Flanagan back in the restaurant last week." The beloved family-run Italian has hosted several high-profile faces in recent times. Rangers icons Graeme Souness and Ally McCoist, Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers, ex-Hoops goalie Joe Hart, and former Light Blues striker Antonio Čolak are among the famous faces who have visited. Flanagan, from Glasgow, made his acting breakthrough in the 1995 hit Braveheart. He has gone on to appear in a string of big-budget productions, including Face/Off, Gladiator, Alien vs. Predator, Sin City, Peaky Blinders, and Westworld. Flanagan grew up in Easterhouse, Glasgow, and is well-known for his facial scars. Corrie star Chris Fountain undergoes heart surgery as he shares video from hospital bed The Hollywood star was injured in a knife attack outside a nightclub when he worked as a DJ. Since leaving Scotland, he has lived in America with his wife and daughter.
Glasgow Times
17 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Sons of Anarchy star spotted at Glasgow Italian restaurant
Scots actor Tommy Flanagan, who is best known for his role in the American action crime drama, was pictured at Caprese Don Costanzo. The family-run Italian spot posted a picture of the 59-year-old with a staff member. READ NEXT: Busy Glasgow street to close for four days from today The image, on Instagram, was captioned: "Great to see Tommy Flanagan back in the restaurant last week." The Woodside Crescent eatery continued with a notice to customers that it will close for a summer break between Sunday, June 29 and Wednesday, August 13.
