11:00am Wednesday 1st July 2009
By David Hemming
A CHARITY shop in Bridgwater has this week issued a rallying cry to people to back its equality campaign for disabled people.
The Scope shop in Binford Place is urging shoppers to sign up to a pledge to help disabled people and to speak out if they see a disabled person being treated unfairly.
Scope wants to get as many signatures to its pledge as possible, and is also on the lookout for good quality clothes and bric-a-brac. Any donations can be dropped off at the shop directly.
Andrew Adair, Scope's director of retail, told the Mercury the charity took access to its shops seriously after it was pointed out that the Binford Place store has a step about five inches high at its entrance, potentially causing problems for wheelchair users or those with mobility problems.
Mr Adair said: “As a disability charity we take access to our shops seriously and we make reasonable adjustments to them at every opportunity.
“Although our Bridgwater shop has a four or five inch step to enter, a temporary ramp is available for customers to use.
“Wheelchair users, people carrying heavy shopping in trolleys or parents with buggies can press a buzzer next to the door to alert a member of staff or volunteer that they would like to use the ramp.
“The installation of a permanent ramp would require us to redevelop the front of the shop at significant expense.”
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