On Tuesday (12 November 2024) White Rose Shopping Centre is marking Purple Tuesday with a series of special events and guest feedback sessions aimed at raising awareness of sensory and accessibility challenges, and improving inclusivity across the centre.
Purple Tuesday is an annual initiative dedicated to enhancing the customer experience for disabled individuals and their families. Organisations that participate pledge to prioritise inclusion and accessibility, working to create a welcoming and positive environment for every visitor.
The White Rose management team will be hosting a drop-in event in the Central Atrium, near JD and the Leeds United store, seeking visitor feedback on how the centre can be made even more accessible.
Guest suggestions have recently led to the installation of both stoma-friendly changing facilities and men’s sanitary bins as part of Prostate Cancer UK’s Boys Need Bins campaign, and the centre team are keen to hear what else might improve the shopping experience for all visitors.
Local organisations Leeds Older People’s Forum, Guide Dogs for the Blind, and William Meritt Disability Services will also be on-site sharing information and accepting donations.
Steven Foster, Centre Director at White Rose Shopping Centre, said:
“There more than 16 million people in the UK living with a disability, almost a quarter of the total population, and so creating an inclusive and supportive environment for all guests is a top priority at White Rose.
“We’re dedicated to ensuring everyone feels welcome and valued at our centre, no matter their needs, and we’re committed to continuously improving the experience for all our visitors.”
White Rose is dedicated to continuously improving inclusivity and accessibility for all visitors year-round. Accessibility facilities at the centres include:
- Quiet Mornings every Tuesday, all morning until 12pm. Between these times, the centre and their retailers reduce noise for those who prefer a calmer shopping environment without music, product demonstrations or mall activity.
- Stoma-friendly toilet facilities are available, providing a safe, clean, and helpful space for bags to be changed.
- Changing Places toilet facilities for people with profound and multiple disabilities, each fitted with specialist equipment such as a hoist and changing bench with enough space for up to two carers to assist those with a disability.
- All toilets now feature sanitary facilities, including the men’s bathrooms. A survey of men living with incontinence found that 95% feel anxiety around a lack of sanitary bins in men’s toilets, leading to many reducing time spent out of the home.
- Wheelchair and mobility scooter hire to ensure guests with mobility issues can enjoy their visit.
- Free sensory toys and hidden disability lanyards which can be collected from White Rose’s Customer Service Centre.
- Autism Friendly Guide which maps out the centre and has spaces such as the “quiet room” and The White Rose Management Suite for a safe place.
For further details on accessibility facilities at White Rose, visit white-rose.co.uk
This post is based on a press release issued on behalf of White Rose Shopping Centre
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