Slow Shopping Initiative Begins at the Grainger Market
Newcastle City Council is aiming to make shopping more accessible for all individuals through a slow shopping initiative which is being launched in the Grainger Market in September.
The Slow Shopping initiative was first launched after Katherine Vero’s mum, Jo, was diagnosed with dementia. Katherine and her mum loved shopping together, and they lost the ability to do that due to the lack of accessibility in many city centre locations. As the heart of the city and a place for many generations to wander and wonder, Katherine thought the Grainger Market was the perfect location to introduce the initiative.
Katherine said: “The Grainger Market is a really special place that is enjoyed by people old and young. It has been a part of city life for decades and the traders already offer such a personable service, which is why I thought it would be the perfect place to roll out the initiative.
“I want to help attract new people to the market and support those who lack confidence due to living with a visible or invisible disability. This work is about small changes to the environment, like turning background music off, that make such a huge difference to the experience of people who feel overwhelmed.
“I am really keen for the Grainger Market to become a model for good practice for accessibility and inclusion in the city.”
From Tuesday, September 2, between 2pm and 4pm, the historic alleyways and arcade will trial the slow shopping initiative to make shopping more accessible for people with visible, invisible, intellectual and cognitive disabilities – with the 80+ traders turning music off, allowing more time and support for customers, and avoiding deliveries where possible.
Researching the Grainger Market with support from NICA (National Innovation Centre for Aging) and VOICE (a Newcastle University scheme aiming to bring together businesses and the community), Katherine found that the majority of shoppers value the market for its local produce (87.5%), affordable prices (37.5%), and convenience (37.5%).
