Our stores across the country are getting behind the annual Purple Tuesday initiative which aims to promote an accessible shopping experience for everyone.
Many of our stores are already taking part in an Inclusive Hour trial in which for one hour every week when they turn down the lights and turn off the music and tannoys to help people with autism, dementia and who may otherwise struggle with noise.
And for this year's Purple Tuesday many of our colleagues have also been learning sign language.
Leanne Milburn, pictured above, is one of the colleagues at our Clayton Green store who's proud to be supporting Purple Tuesday.
The store's admin manager Jess Webster says colleagues fully back the initiative and will be wearing purple for the day.
She said: "Our checkout colleagues have all been leaning basic sign language too so will they will be able to ask 'Can I help you?', 'Are you okay?' and 'Do you need help with your packing? Purple Tuesday is great idea and we are fully behind it."
Deborah Jones, the community champion at our Derby store, is getting behind the initiative. She said: "This Tuesday we will be supporting Purple Tuesday. Between 10am-12pm we will lower the music and limit our tannoy announcements in store for the comfort of our customers that like it a little quieter."
Our Ashford store's community champion Mariee Holland shared this photo of colleagues dressing in purple and wearing the purple ribbon to show their support:
Colleagues at our Frome store have been learning the Makaton for "love" – here they are:
Our Clacton-on-Sea store's community champion Amy Openshaw says lots of her colleagues have been practising their sign language ready for Purple Tuesday and shared this picture of some of them in action:
Joanna Butler, the community champion at our Leamington Spa store, says colleagues there were keen to do their bit to help.
She said: "We're focusing on raising awareness of the everyday accessibility challenges faced by our disabled customers. Asda colleagues have always been passionate about helping our customers, and we are keenly aware that not all disabilities are visible."
Colleagues at our Hull Mount Pleasant store are getting behind the scheme too. The store's community champion Sarah Cranswick said: "We're proud to supporting Purple Tuesday. Colleagues are dressed in purple and are wearing badges."
Our Pwllheli store's community champion Jo Scott says colleagues like Sion, in the photo below, will be wearing purple to show their support for Purple Tuesday.
Jo said: "Purple Tuesday on 12th November is an important date. Colleagues can wear purple to support this inclusive shopping event for all to recognise the accessible needs of disabled consumers and to promote an inclusive enjoyable shopping experience for all."
Our Marple store's manager Simon Lea led the way by introducing a 'quiet hour' in 2016. Read more about why it's such an important issue and his personal experience of talking openly about mental health in his blog post here.
Purple Tuesday:
Find out more about Purple Tuesday at
