This week we celebrated Purple Tuesday with a shopping trip to Gobowen Co-op. We teamed up with our local store to make shopping more accessible for our students as part of a global campaign to improve customer service for disabled people.
The idea started with a meeting between our Student Council and Shropshire Councillor Craig Emery who is also Co-op Area Manager. We talked about the challenges some of our students face when shopping, especially those with communication difficulties. That conversation sparked a brilliant partnership and a project that’s already making a real difference.
With help from our Independent Living Skills team and Speech & Language therapists, students got stuck in to find ways to shop more independently, including the use of ‘Shopping GRID’ for iPads. The app features shopping lists, handy communication phrases and money tools, giving students the confidence to do their shopping with minimal support.
Felix was one of the first to try out the GRID Player at Co-op. Watching Felix manage his own shopping list, keep track of spending, and ask for help when needed (all with just a little staff support) was fantastic. It’s not just about groceries – it’s about building life skills and independence, and seeing our students become more involved in the local community.
Purple Tuesday has also sparked some great conversations across Derwen College. Tutorials focused on the right to accessibility, and at Ludlow campus, students explored the campaign and shared their thoughts, led by their student rep Tiffany. It’s been a real team effort, and we’re proud of how everyone’s got involved.
Cllr Craig Emery said: “Diversity and inclusivity is at the heart of Co-op, and our Gobowen store is delighted to work closely with Derwen College. Supporting the College’s work with its students with special education needs provides opportunities for the students to develop the life-skills needed to carry out everyday tasks independently in the community, including popping to their local Co-op to pick up their groceries.”
