Bedford - An Inclusive Town

On Purple Tuesday, Tuesday 12 November, Bedford Borough Council and partners are launching a survey to help inform an Inclusive Town Charter.

Leading on the Inclusive Town Charter will be the new 'Bedford- An Inclusive Town Group. This sees the Council working in partnership with Access Bedford, Autism Bedfordshire, Bedford BID, Bedford and District Access Group, Bedford and District Cerebral Palsy Society and the Harpur Centre.

The group are looking to introduce a Charter for local businesses. By signing, businesses will be making a lasting commitment to create a better experience for disabled customers as well as their carers and families. This could be by lower dimming the lights and lowering the music at a specified time each week, training staff in BSL or having extra staff on hand to support customer's needs.

On Purple Tuesday, 12 November, representatives from the 'Bedford - An Inclusive Town Group' will be in the Harpur Centre asking shoppers about their experiences and ideas to create 'An Inclusive Town'.

Purple Tuesday is an international call to action, focused on changing the customer experience for disabled people. It will involve organisations of all sizes and from all sectors taking decisive, practical actions to meet the needs of disabled customers.

A number of businesses locally and across the country are already looking at ways to improve customers' experiences and this is an opportunity for everyone to get involved and get the ball rolling.

Dave Hodgson, Mayor of Bedford Borough said, "We are committed to improving accessibility and inclusiveness across the town and I'm delighted to support Purple Tuesday in Bedford. We support its vision to see disability as an opportunity and to be part of addressing the inequality that exists for disabled people through increasing accessibility for everything they do."