News release

Press release September 2003

Guide Dogs launches The Guide Dogs High Street Charter

Retail therapy has become an essential part of many people’s lives but, for guide dog owners, high streets can be daunting and confusing. So, The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association has teamed up with the British Retail Consortium (BRC) to launch its ‘Access for All to the High Street ’ campaign (6 -12 October). The campaign is aimed at shops, banks, building societies, post offices, restaurants and other food and drink outlets.

Guide Dogs and the BRC are working together to draw attention to the challenges guide dog owners face on a daily basis and to provide practical advice on understanding the needs of people with vision-impairment.

Although there are many examples of good practice, guide dog owners continue to encounter problems on our high streets. At worst, some are refused entry to pubs and restaurants or encounter problems when finding their way around shops. Even everyday activities such as visiting the bank or building society can be a challenge for people with vision-impairment – but it doesn’t have to be that way.

Robin Hutchinson, Guide Dogs’ Head of Communications says:  

“Access for All encourages us to consider how much we take shopping, eating out or going to the bank for granted. If you are blind or partially sighted, though, people’s attitudes can make these very stressful experiences."

Encouragingly, many high street businesses are spot on when it comes to welcoming guide dog owners, but we would like this good practice to extend to all businesses across the country. We want to ensure that all vision impaired people can enjoy the same rights, opportunities and responsibilities as everybody else.

As part of the campaign Guide Dogs is also launching The Guide Dogs High Street Charter, a good practice guide offering tips on how to ensure that all guide dog owners receive a warm welcome and good service. For further information or a copy of the Charter, contact 0118 983 8364 or email guidedogs@guidedogs.org.uk

Bill Moyes, BRC Director General, says:  

Chip & PIN: By 2005 a large number of plastic card transactions in the UK will be verified by customers simply tapping in a four-digit number (a PIN) rather than signing a receipt when paying by credit or debit card. The PIN pad has a raised button on the number 5 as a guide, just like on a telephone. Cashiers will be trained to help customers use the system, which means that vision-impaired customers can now pay with their cards as quickly and easily as other customers.