Shrewsbury shopping centres support Purple Tuesday
The Darwin and Pride Hill shopping centres in Shrewsbury will join others across the nation in marking Purple Tuesday, the UK’s first accessible shopping day.
Tomorrow (Tuesday 13 November 2018) will see the shopping centres officially join the campaign to promote awareness about customers with disabilities, highlight the difficulties existing shoppers with disabilities face and measures that can be put in place to overcome them.
The Darwin Centre in Shrewsbury
To mark the day, the centre’s security and cleaning staff have committed to undergo further disability awareness training and wear purple armbands which have been made and kindly donated by Shrewsbury Top Tailoring, located in the Pride Hill Centre. There will also be posters displayed throughout the two centres.
Kevin Lockwood, Shrewsbury shopping centres manager, said:
“We are proud to be part of Purple Tuesday. We work hard to ensure that our centres are as accessible as they can be, but we’re always looking for new ways to adapt and improve.
“With Christmas fast approaching, it’s a great time to raise awareness and understanding of the challenges our customers with disabilities may face.”
Since launching its initiative in August 2018, leading disability organisation Purple has secured more than 500 sign-ups from established and up-and-coming retail organisations keen to secure their share of the ‘purple pound’ – worth an estimated £249 billion.
Endorsed by the Department for Work and Pensions, Purple Tuesday is a call-to-action for retail businesses to make shopping more accessible for customers with disabilities – not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because it’s good for business. Securing custom from the estimated 12 million people with disabilities living in the UK makes commercial sense. Shoppers are also encouraged to show their support, by visiting their local shopping centre or high street on the day.
Exciting plans are underway amongst some of Britain’s leading retailers – chain and independent, large and small – for celebrating the awareness day. Disabled street-theatre, dance and choir performances, and more, are set to be staged across the UK’s favourite shopping hotspots. The initiative also enjoys support from Sarah Newton, Minister of State for Disabled People, Health and Work, who will attend the purple lighting-up of key London landmarks on the day.
Beyond the 13 November awareness day, Purple will work alongside organisations to support implementation of commitments made, including customer service training and providing support to increase accessibility of websites and other online technology. Wider support includes physical access audits, improved signage and increasing the involvement of mystery shoppers with disabilities.
Mike Adams, Purple’s Chief Executive Officer, said:
“We’re delighted that the Darwin and Pride Hill shopping centres are supporting the Purple Tuesday campaign to promote better accessibility for shoppers with disabilities. This is a collaborative campaign that extends far beyond one day, and it’s vital that retail organisations come together to make shopping more pleasurable and efficient for everyone.”
Resources for organisations and individuals wishing to get involved with Purple Tuesday are available for download at purpletuesday.org.uk.
Further information
About Purple Tuesday
Purple Tuesday is the UK’s first accessible shopping day, organised by Purple – a leading organisation changing the conversation around people with disabilities, and helping businesses secure the ‘purple pound’. For further information, visit: https://wearepurple.org.uk/.
Shrewsbury shopping centres
Shropshire Council bought Shrewsbury’s three main shopping centres in January 2018 to support the economic growth and regeneration of the town centre. To find out more, visit: https://shropshire.gov.uk/shropshire-council/shrewsbury-shopping-centres/
