As the Christmas period is fast approaching, many of us are starting to go Christmas shopping and whilst some may enjoy this, it can be a daunting time for those who are less able. As such, Queensgate Shopping Centre in Peterborough are launching their EnAbled shopping event to make shopping accessible for everyone, and we are delighted to be supporting it.
On Thursday the 7th December 2017, Queensgate Shopping Centre will host its new community engagement initiative called EnAbled, which works with disability groups and individuals to make the shopping experience, especially at this busy time, inclusive for everyone. The event will run from 4pm until 8pm – the Queensgate staff and retailers along with a few friendly faces from Rolton Group will welcome disability groups, carers, and individuals with specific needs of all ages and abilities into a relaxed and comfortable environment. The greeting stations placed around the centre will have refreshments as well as information about the evening, including exclusive discounts and pictorial mall guides.
We are delighted to be sponsoring such a fantastic initiative, in particular the lighting and sensory aspects in the shopping centre for the evening, ensuring the environment is well suited to those who have visual and hearing impairments. To do this, the lighting will be dimmed and the usual music played over the sound system will be replaced by a pianist playing soothing music. There will also be staffed ‘quiet zones’ and sensory areas to give guests easy-to-access locations as well as a dog station for guide dogs. In addition, we will be providing a number of volunteers, to help those in attendance have an enjoyable experience.
Craig Smith, Director said of the occasion,
“As a business we have been working with Queensgate Shopping Centre for over thirty years and our design drawings appear in their Archives! This long established relationship is something that we are very proud of and as such, when the opportunity came up to help sponsor and support this fantastic community engaging event we were more than pleased to do so. The EnAbled evening is a unique and superb initiative to help support families with disabilities in the local area and we are very pleased to be involved.”
