The region’s largest building society is supporting a new initiative on Gosforth High Street to help those who need more space and time to shop and conduct their affairs feel more welcome in their local community.
Started by Gosforth resident, Katherine Vero, following her mother’s dementia diagnosis, the Slow Shopping programme runs every Tuesday on Gosforth High Street and is supported by Sainsbury’s and Newcastle Building Society who are working in tandem to provide a safe, welcoming and calm environment for those who need a little more time to conduct their shopping and financial affairs.
Slow Shopping particularly caters for those who live with visible, invisible, intellectual or cognitive disability. As part of Slow Shopping, retailers dedicate times when shopping can be more relaxed, where more trained staff can be available and there are more opportunities to sit down.
Newcastle Building Society’s Gosforth branch is the first, and currently only, financial organisation to support “Slow Shopping”.
Lynn Richardson, Gosforth branch manager at Newcastle Building Society, said: “We are so pleased to be involved with Slow Shopping. There will be no music playing, lights dimmed as much as we can and colleagues will be trained on how to act during the time frame. We want more businesses to sign up to this fantastic initiative, helping Gosforth become a more dementia friendly high street.”
The pilot grew out of the Society’s commitment to Dementia Awareness on the high street which is also a common goal of many businesses in Gosforth. With four businesses signing up to Slow Shopping so far.
Katherine Vero founder of Slow Shopping, commented: “We are delighted to be working with the Newcastle Building Society in Gosforth to support those who may need more time or support with their finances. This is the first financial organisation to adopt the Slow Shopping service and shows their commitment to their local community.”
Those businesses involved in Slow Shopping in the Gosforth area, include:
Newcastle Building Society Gosforth Tuesdays 9 – 11
Sainsbury’s Gosforth Tuesdays 1 – 3
Tesco Extra Kingston Park Tuesdays 1 – 3
IKEA Gateshead Tuesday 6 – 8 and Wed 10 – 12
