VISUALLY impaired shoppers are being offered a helping hand at intu Merry Hill this month.
The Brierley Hill shopping centre has teamed up with Sedgley sight loss charity Beacon Centre to offer a series of assisted shopping sessions.
During the hour-long shopping sessions, trained members of intu staff will assist shoppers around the centre by offering guidance and support.
More than 50 members of intu staff have undergone training, which saw them try on specialist goggles that replicate sight-loss conditions and guide each other around the malls.
The centre is also working with experts from the charity to develop a user-friendly mall guide, as well as trialling improvements to the centre to make it more accessible for those with visual impairments.
Naomi Campbell, community development manager at intu Merry Hill, said: “We want to ensure that every shopper that comes through our doors feels comfortable and welcome, so it is key for us to understand the needs of everyone.
“Working with the Beacon Centre has given our staff an appreciation of some of the challenges faced by sufferers of sight loss. We aim to improve their shopping experience through the world class customer service we give.”
Donna Gordon, partnership development manager at the Beacon Centre, added: “We are delighted that intu Merry Hill has shown such a commitment to helping people with visual impairments.
“It was very clear when working with the team that offering excellent customer service is a very high priority.”
Dates and times for the assisted shopping session at intu Merry Hill are listed below.
To book, visit www.beaconvision.org or call 01902 880111.
Monday, September 11: 12noon-1pm, 3pm-4pm
Tuesday, September 12: 9am-10am, 4pm-5pm, 6pm-7pm.
Wednesday, September 13: 10am-11am, 4pm-5pm
Thursday, September 14: 10am-11am
Monday, September 18: 10am-11am, 2pm-3pm
Tuesday, September 19: 10am-11am, 2pm-3pm
Thursday, September 21: 2pm-3pm
Monday, September 25: 9am-10am, 10am-11am, 11am-12noon
Tuesday, September 26: 10am-11am, 2pm-3pm
Wednesday, September 27: 2pm-3pm
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