centre:mk will be taking part in Purple Tuesday on 12th November for the second year running, in conjunction with disability organisation Purple, as part of their ongoing commitment to make shopping at the centre for people with disabilities an easy and pleasant experience.
Mike Adams, Purple CEO said, “I am delighted centre:mk is involved in Purple Tuesday once again. It underlines their public commitment to improve the customer experience for disabled people. Meeting the needs of disabled customers makes commercial sense for businesses and I am hopeful others will follow centre:mk’s lead. Together we can commit to change the customer experience for disabled people for good.” Purple Tuesday will see the team at centre:mk invite representatives from different disability groups into the centre to experience shopping there, providing feedback to the team about the facilities offered, including other initiatives in place at the centre.
As one of the only locations of a Changing Places changing room in Milton Keynes, quiet shopping hours twice weekly and with an ongoing training programme for staff to be able to recognise and assist guests with both seen and unseen disabilities, centre:mk are “proud to be purple” all year round. In recognition of this, centre:mk has been shortlisted for the first ever Re:spect – celebrating accessibility in placemaking award at the Revo Gold Awards in December.
The centre recently introduced the “Sunflower Lanyard” scheme, a new hidden disabilities initiative designed to help guests with a need for additional support when shopping. The “Sunflower Lanyard” programme works by offering a distinctive sunflower patterned lanyard to individuals who have a hidden disability, in order for centre staff and retailers to identify them and be aware that they might need some additional assistance as they shop. The lanyards are available free of charge from the Guest services desk and have proved to be very popular so far.
Kevin Duffy, centre:mk Director said “Our work with the disabled community fits with our “Open to all” strategy, our ongoing programme to make the shopping experience at centre:mk more supportive and comfortable for people with disabilities. We are always looking for more ways to make guests to the centre feel welcome and cared for and strive to deliver the best customer service for every guest who visits.”