A student‑led project at Derwen College has won a national award after learners worked with staff and a local supermarket to improve accessibility to help people with learning difficulties and disabilities shop more independently in their community.
The project has been recognised with a national Natspec Innovation Award in the Student Voice category, celebrating the impact of students speaking up and helping to shape positive change in their local area.
Students spoke directly to Co‑op management and worked alongside the College’s Independent Living Skills (ILS) team to address barriers that can make everyday shopping challenging. By sharing their experiences and ideas, students helped promote greater independence and more inclusive community spaces.
The project, led by Derwen College Student Council, was inspired by the national Purple Tuesday campaign, which promotes accessibility and inclusion for disabled customers. Students were keen to explore how everyday community experiences could be made more inclusive and identified communication as a key barrier to independence.
Student Voice
Student voice sat at the heart of the project. Students led discussions with the Co‑op about accessibility and shared their own experiences to help shape a more inclusive approach to shopping. At the same time, a communication tool developed with the ILS team enabled students to express themselves and shop more independently, putting student voice into action in real‑life community settings.
Inclusive shopping
As part of the initiative, students met with Councillor Craig Emery their local Parish Councillor, who is also a Co‑op Area Manager, to advocate for more inclusive shopping environments.
Working with the ILS team, students helped shape the development of a bespoke communication tool, Shopping GRID, used on college iPads. The highly personalised GRID enables students to manage shopping lists, request assistance, communicate with shop staff and complete transactions independently.
One of the first students to trial the technology was Felix, who used the Shopping GRID to complete his entire shopping trip, from planning his list to paying at the till, with minimal staff support. The experience helped build his confidence, communication skills and independence, while strengthening his connection to the local community.
Students led the project from its inception, shaping its direction, providing feedback and supporting peers to use the technology. Their involvement ensured the project remained focused on genuine student needs and sustainable beyond the initial trial.
Jonathan Wiltshire, Student Council President, said: “It feels like an honour to have won this national award. Our project benefits students and the community. It feels really good to get an award.”
Self-advocacy, confidence and budgeting skills
Category judge Poppy Garton said: “The benefits seen included increased self‑advocacy, confidence, budgeting skills, and real‑world communication.
“The impact extends beyond individual learners as the local Co‑op has strengthened inclusive practice, awareness of accessibility has grown, and this is a sustainable, student‑led model for community change which they intend to widen to other local businesses.”
The initiative has also sparked wider conversations about accessibility across Derwen College’s campuses, with students exploring their rights and considering how similar approaches could be used in other community settings such as cafés and hairdressers.
Looking ahead, Derwen College plans to build on the success of the project by working with additional local businesses and expanding the use of assistive communication tools, helping more students develop independence, confidence and a strong sense of belonging in their communities.