This week in the UK is #ShopLock week, from Monday 10th August to Monday 17th. This could not come at a more crucial time, as the local economy is under extreme pressures, due to the effects of COVID-19.
It is part of a wider UK initiative to encourage more people to #EnjoySummerSafely and support their local greengrocer, bakery or florist, or any other local shop, to support the local economy and local jobs and use the #ShopLocal hash tag when posting online.
This is a fantastic campaign and as a member of Omagh Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s committee, one I support full heartedly. It has been a testing few months for our towns and our local businesses has been the backbone during the beginning of lockdown to ensure we were able to keep a level of service that we have been come accustomed to and adding extra services and support to ensure our safety.
However it would be remiss of me to ignore the impact the continuing impact on disabled people during COVID-19. Many, like myself, did not leave the house in that time and many more are not making unnecessary journeys today. This includes trips to our town for the local shops, to dine in our beautiful cafes and restaurants or even go to the cinema to enjoy the next big Hollywood blockbuster film.
Whilst the world is beginning to come out of isolation and finding ways the adapt to the new world around us, in many cases this is at the expense of disabled people. Many towns are allowing retails and the hospitality sector to expand onto our high streets and roads. We have witnessed on so occasions, that disabled parking bays outside premises are the first places to be utilised for tables, chairs and in some cases, sofas.
This impedes on us being able to come into town and park our cars safely, so without these spaces, we must remain at home. Of those of us who do make it out, our access is future denied by signage and more furniture on our public pathways. These have been ongoing issues for many disabled people, but the incidents have exacerbated since shielding has ended.
As a result of both cases, social distances is harder to maintain for many wheelchair users, visually impaired people and other disabled people. Our towns have the real danger of becoming an obstacle course to reduce our high risk of being infected by the potential fatal coronavirus.
There there is the whole issue of wearing face masks in the towns and the public spaces. Some disabled get abused for not wearing the masks, despite the fact they are exempted. Access All Areas with Dermot and Felicity will be discussing this matter in more detail this Sunday.
There are many great further initiatives to encourage people back to the town centres, one of which is the Eat Out to Help Out Scheme by the UK Government, that gives customers a 50% in restaurants, cafes and bars / pubs. This is between 3rd to 31st August, on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesdays.
However disabled people are missing out on this offer, as it is only opened for sit-ins customers ad not take-aways. Whilst I understand the purpose of the scheme is the encourage local shopping, many disabled people are missing out and this needs to be highlighted, as a high number of disabled people in the UK are in poverty and such a scheme would have been a gamer changers for many in August.
In Northern Ireland, disabled people make up 19.5% of the population and the Purple Pound is strong and crucial for so many businesses now, especially our local greengrocer, bakery or florist, or any other local shop. Instead our shopping now is done online; on places like Amazon, ASOS or Moonpig.
The UK Government have recently talked about imposing a tax on on-line goods to help encourage make shoppers to head back to the streets. Many people see this as a tax on the disabled, as many are forced to do our shopping online, as we do not feel safe to enter or towns or that our towns are equipped to meet our needs.
We make up so much of the potential revenue that small businesses in our towns need, let’s make our towns safer and accessible so that our spending power isn’t lost to global powers online.
Talk to disabled people, consult with disabled people, plan with disabled people. We are here, we want to shop local, so lets make an inclusive environment for everyone.
#ShopLocal by #SupportDisabledShoppers