The Dolphin Shopping Centre in Poole is endorsing and promoting the government-backed ‘Purple Tuesday’, on Tuesday November 13.
Purple Tuesday is the UK’s first ever accessible shopping day, aimed at getting retailers to take disability seriously, and to promote inclusive shopping by recognising the importance and needs of disabled consumers.
On the day, The Dolphin will dim the lights in the centre and the music will also be turned off. The shopping centre’s customer service guest host will also be in the mall, offering additional assistance to customers who require it.
Nearly one in every five people in the UK has a disability or impairment, and over half of households in the UK have a connection to someone with a disability.
Source: Purple
Earlier this year, the Dolphin Shopping Centre opened new state-of-the-art Changing Places toilets. The toilets have new facilities to aid those with disabilities, including a ceiling track hoist, and a height-adjustable, adult-sized changing bench.
John Grinnell, centre manager at the Dolphin Shopping Centre, commented:
“We want to help make shopping more inclusive, and enhance our accessibility. We have received such great feedback throughout the year for our new and improved toilets and the Changing Places facilities in particular. We want people with disabilities and their carers to have confidence that there are suitable facilities close by whenever they are shopping with us.”
Sharon Moore, administrator at Poole Parent Carer Forum, added:
“When we visited the new and improved toilets at the Dolphin, we were really impressed. We care for children and young people with special education needs and disabilities up to the age of 25 years and these are some of the best facilities we have seen in a long time.”