The Royal National Institute of Blind People, (RNIB) in conjunctions with the Lincoln and Lindsay Society for the Blind, brings Go! Shop - an initiative to improve the shopping experience of blind and partially sighted people to Lincoln.
Lincolnshire's 3,600 registered blind and partially sighed people plus thousands more non-registered people living with a sight problem from across the county like to go shopping, but on average over 85 per cent of them experience big problems when shopping.
David Hodgson from Lincoln is blind and a Trustee for the Lincoln and Lindsay Blind Society. David said: I'm sure everybody at sometime has stood in a queue and heard the announcement: 'cashier number 3 please'. I hear the announcement in the same way as any other customer, but how am I expected to find cashier number 3?
David believes cooperation is the key: "I believe in helping other people whenever possible and as a blind person I try to be cooperative and friendly. I can smile about how I've mistakenly put mint sauce into my tea - but you only do it once! Seriously I'm happy to explain to people what help I need when I'm shopping. The more obliging I try to be, I believe sighted people will try to do the same."
Worryingly, up to 94 per cent of blind and partially sighted people said they have difficulty reading price information. Around 72 per cent said obstacles in aisles where a problem. 80 per cent thought they wouldn't go back to a shop that was difficult to get about in. 98 per cent thought unfriendly or unhelpful shop staff would stop them shopping somewhere. 90 per cent said their shopping experience would be improved if their bill could be read to them.
People like Robert Redford from Lincoln who is partially sighted said his contribution when shopping with his wife is pushing the trolley. Robert added: "I would prefer to avoid shopping like the plague! It's no fun having to get down on your hands and knees to see the price on a loaf of bread! And then to find you can't read the price because the writing is too small to see. Being partially sighted means I don't have a choice when I go shopping. For example when it comes to buying a shirt, I have to ask my wife to choose one for me."
Today at the White Hart hotel in Lincoln blind and partially sighted people from Lincolnshire will say how they feel about their shopping experience - good and bad - and will convey this to local businesses and organisations that include; Lincoln County Council Stagecoach, the Lincolnshire Co-operative, Waitrose, Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce, LincolnBIG, Nottingham City Transport and Beacon Footware.
Ruth Stockdale RNIB's Campaign Officer for the East Midlands or Bill Alker from RNIB in the East Midlands said: "Blind and partially sighted people want and like to shop, but there are several factors which impact on a person's ability to effectively enjoy the experience. RNIB's Go! Shop programme is designed to bring blind and partially sighted people together with organisations and businesses in Lincoln - to discuss the difficulties they face getting to the shops and when shopping, so together we can find solutions to their problems"
At the White Hart Hotel, RNIB will present Go! Shop Good Practice awards in recognition of particularly good service to the Co-op, Beacon Footware and Boots. Michelle Moncaster who works as an assistant for the Co-op will receive an award. She was nominated by Liz Driver who is blind and a regular shopper at the Lincolnshire Cooperative store in Trelawney Crescent. The award is in recognition of a great level of customer service. Liz said: "Michelle and I have developed a good partnership whereby she informs me about any special offers and sell by dates. She helps me with the trolley and packing so I know where everything is when I unpack."
From the Lincolnshire Cooperative, Queen Elizabeth Road Foodstore Manager Adam Waddingham said: "We are all very proud of Michelle. She's a credit to the Society and the store."
RNIB and Lincoln and Lindsay Society for the Blind are delighted to have the Right Worshipful the Mayor and Mayoress of Lincoln attending for part of the morning session of the Go! Shop event.
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For more media information contact Bill Alker, RNIB Press Office 020 7391 2223 or 077912 76790.
Notes to Editors
1. Fuller written case studies and interviews are available with Robert Redford and David Hodgson and other representatives from RNIB and the Lincoln and Lindsay Society for the Blind on request.
2. Every day almost 100 people start to lose their sight in the UK but only 8 per cent will receive counselling. RNIB works to support blind and partially sighted people but can only reach one in three people who need our help.