Wokingham

Local Wokingham shops that provide fair and easy access for disabled customers will be recognised for their facilities and services through a new award scheme that launches this month (Thursday November 16).

Believed to be one of the first of its kind in the UK, the awards are being organised by the Wokingham Area Access Group (WAAG) in partnership with the Wokingham Disability and Sensory Needs Partnership Board.

The awards are all inclusive by encouraging able bodied people and those who are disabled as well as parents with prams or pushchairs to nominate shops and businesses that are access friendly.

The awards are sponsored by the Wokingham Times newspaper who will print forms for residents to nominate businesses for the award and Wokingham District Council who will train members of WAAG about disabled access laws.

Members of WAAG will visit shops or business premises nominated by residents and each shop or business will be judged using criteria in line with the Disability Discrimination Act and using a star award system based on things like ease of access, signage and hearing loops.

If however some businesses find it difficult to provide comprehensive disabled access due to planning laws or limited space, but who help customers in other ways such as placing a bell or railings outside, they will receive a merit award if nominated.

Wokingham Residents nominating a business each month will automatically be entered into a prize draw worth £25.

Businesses winning the award will go onto a new Wokingham Access Guide to be developed online and launched early next year, aimed at people with sensory needs and special needs as well as the physically disabled and parents with young children.

The website will be linked to national access and disability sites making it easy for visitors from outside the district to find out which Wokingham district businesses can accommodate their needs.

WAGG also plans to send out information to coach tour operators to encourage them into the area by highlighting accessible local shops and disabled parking facilities that would accommodate their customers’ needs.

The scheme is thought to be the first of its kind due to it being run by a voluntary group of like-minded people with disabilities or who look after somebody with a disability. It is also independent of government, councils and businesses.

WAAG spokesperson, David Gaskin, said: “The awards will be based on 12 criteria set by disability access laws including ease of opening doors, getting to a till or goods they want to purchase, as well as aisles being clear of stock and the way the companies staff look after disabled customers or those with access difficulties, while they are shopping or using the services.”

Cllr Pauline Helliar-Symons, executive member for Wokingham social care services and housing, said: “We know that many local shops and businesses do their utmost to provide fair and easy access for parents with pushchairs, disabled customers and partially sighted people. Wokingham District Council has been looking at fair ways to award businesses in the community who have opened up their shops and we very much hope the awards will highlight awareness about the importance of access.

"I am very pleased to have been able to work with WAAG on this initiative, and hope members of the public will start sending names of businesses who address this well."

Wokingham District Council