TIME is running out to make your nominations for the Redditch No Barriers Awards.
The aim of the awards is to celebrate businesses or people who go out of their way to make life that little bit easier for the borough’s disabled – and the closing date is Monday, February 1.
“The idea is to celebrate and recognise those who have gone that extra step to support those people with a disability in its widest sense,” said borough engagement and equalities advisor Emily Payne.
“And we’re not just looking at the Kingfisher Shopping Centre, which supports the awards, or the town centre but the entire town,” she added.
“It can be a business, a named individual or a community organisation – we want to hear who is making a difference.”
She added that simple things could make a huge difference for wheelchair or shopmobility users.
“The height of a counter, the height of a display and ease of access, they can all make a difference,” said Emily.
The Betty Passingham Award will also be presented for special recognition of services.
Councillor Anita Clayton, herself a Shopmobility user, said: “Redditch has a fantastic reputation and we have people coming from all over the county and further afield because of its ease of access.
“We were one of the first in the area to set it up and it’s been an amazing success because what it offers is independence.
“We want the Redditch No Barriers Awards to be a celebration of this.”
Nomination forms can be picked up from the information desk in the Kingfisher Shopping Centre, via email at [email protected] or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/groups/disabiltyactionredditch/ .
• A CAMPAIGNING group in Redditch is raising the standard for disability rights and appealing for people to tell them the good, bad, and ugly of life getting around the town.
Disability Action Redditch (DAR), headed by Councillor Anita Clayton has been active for many years.
“DAR is a forum for people to bring issues to and we will take up them up and try to help them,” said Coun Clayton (Con, Batchley & Brockhill).
DAR meets on the second Monday of each month from 10.30am to 12.30pm except for August at The Council Chamber, Redditch Town Hall, Walter Stranz Square Redditch B98 8AH.
If you can’t make a meeting and want to raise an issue email [email protected] or call 07737 317493. They are also on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/disabiltyactionredditch/ or write to Disabilty Action Redditch, 95 Cheswick Close, Winyates, Redditch, B98 0QQ.
