The Channel Islands Cooperative Society has introduced a range of new measures across some stores that aim to help make shopping easier and more manageable for neurodivergent customers and members.
Shoppers can now access a range of resources at Millenium Park and St Peter’s Village Grand Marché stores in Jersey, and the Nocq Road and St Martin Grand Marché stores in Guernsey.
As a business, the Channel Islands Cooperative Society (CI Coop) aims to provide a comfortable shopping experience for all and understand that for some, shopping can be overwhelming and distressing, considering this, Coop wanted to create a calmer and more sensory-friendly shopping experience. CI Coop now offers a social story, ear defenders, visual support tools and more resources available at the customer service desks, suitable for all ages, in selected stores. The business aims to roll the initiative out to all its stores across the Channel Islands if successful.
While the society already runs its established ‘Quiet Time’ on Mondays from 3pm until 5pm and on Saturdays between 5pm and 7pm at Millenium Park, St Peter’s Village, Nocq Road and St Martin Grand Marché stores, these new measures aim to make shopping a calmer and more enjoyable experience for neurodivergent customers.
Emma Veitch, Interim Head of Retail Operations at CI Coop, said: “I understand how stimulating and overwhelming it can be in certain environments and have spent a long time trying to make shopping a calmer experience for my own son who has Autism and ADHD. From my own experience and with the advice from others within the neurodivergent community, Coop has introduced aids that we hope will create a calmer and more enjoyable experience.
“Our Calmer Coop website page www.channelislands.coop/calmercoop shares information about what’s available, and our Social Story and Communication Card can be downloaded in advance of your visit if preferred. The Coop is at the heart of our community, and we hope ‘Calmer Coop’ will support anyone who requires it.”
Niamh Mc Dermott, Co-founder and Assistant Chair at AllMatters Neurodiverse Jersey, said: “We were delighted to be invited into the store to meet with Emma and hear about all the fabulous work she is doing to help make shopping a less overwhelming experience.
“There are so many barriers for our neurodivergent community when it comes to going to a supermarket therefore it was lovely to see the Coop embracing neurodiversity. We were impressed with the passion and dedication Emma has towards making the Coop a more inclusive store and all the accommodation she is putting in place.
“We are delighted to work collaboratively with the Coop to support them on this journey. We hope other companies follow their example.”