A new campaign – Take a Seat – has launched in Stockport providing support to town centre shoppers.
‘Take a Seat’ is a campaign supported by Totally Stockport and partners that encourages businesses to provide shoppers with a chair to sit down and rest if needed. The campaign also aims to support people by having access to a toilet and fresh drinking water if needed.
In partnership with Stockport Council, Age Friendly Stockport and Stockport Business Improvement District’s Totally Stockport, Stockport Homes has pledged to support the first 20 businesses to sign up with a free chair.
Simon Welch, Director of Neighbourhoods and Support, from Stockport Homes said:
“Take a Seat is an innovative campaign helping to support shoppers and reduce isolation. The concept is simple and clear, providing a valuable resource for shoppers in the Town Centre to rest, use a bathroom or have a drink of water. As part of our commitment, we will provide a free chair to the first 20 businesses that sign up to the campaign.
“Any business involved in the scheme will have an ‘Age Friendly flower’ sticker displayed in their window and a chair will be available. We understand not every business will be able to offer bathroom facilities but we want to let people know where these facilities can be used as part of the campaign.”
The campaign was initially launched by Southway Housing Trust in 2012 and has been trialled in Stockport’s Heaton Mersey, Heaton Moor, Heaton Chapel and Heaton Norris with success. The same scheme is now set to be replicated in Stockport Town Centre.
Jamie Pitt, Business Manager, Light Cinema Stockport said:
“Light Stockport is pleased to support such an enterprising initiative. We like to think that our new cinema’s public areas can provide a relaxing social space for guests or visitors to relax whether they are going to the cinema, shopping or just meeting friends. Everyone is welcome.”
Find out more about the campaign or register your business as a partner HERE