Purple Tuesday: A Step Towards Accessible Travel with Travel Hands

Did you know that the Purple Pound—the collective spending power of disabled people and their families—is worth an impressive £274 billion in the UK?

This accounts for 21.8% of the population, yet many businesses continue to overlook this market. In fact, less than 10% of organisations have a strategy to engage with disabled customers, missing out on a huge opportunity. With over 14.6 million disabled people in the UK, the Purple Pound holds massive potential for business growth, all while creating a more inclusive society for everyone.

To raise awareness and encourage businesses to prioritise accessibility and inclusion, Purple Tuesday was launched—a nationwide movement to make public spaces and services more accessible for people with disabilities. Purple Tuesday highlights the challenges disabled individuals face in everyday life and advocates for better, more inclusive environments in retail, transport, and digital services.

At Travel Hands, we fully support this mission and work tirelessly to make travel easier and more inclusive for visually impaired people (VIPs). We believe that accessibility isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s a necessity.

What is Purple Tuesday?

Purple Tuesday is a global movement dedicated to improving accessibility and removing barriers for people with disabilities. First launched in 2018, this annual event takes place on the second Tuesday of November. In 2024, the UK celebrated the 7th edition of Purple Tuesday on 12th November. The event promotes accessible retail, transport, hospitality, and digital services for people with disabilities.

Why is Purple Tuesday Important?

In the UK, around 1 in 5 people—about 14.6 million—are disabled. Initiatives like Purple Tuesday are essential for creating a more inclusive society and reminding businesses of the vast economic potential of disabled individuals. The Purple Pound represents a powerful opportunity for companies to grow by engaging with this often-overlooked demographic.

And the numbers speak for themselves: globally, 1.8 billion people—17% of the world’s population—are living with some form of disability. Yet, 70% of disabled people say they won’t return to a business after receiving poor customer service. These statistics underline why accessibility is crucial—not just for social good, but for businesses to remain competitive and sustainable today .

Purple Tuesday Calls for Change

Purple Tuesday encourages businesses to:

• _{Improve customer service for disabled people.}
• _{Enhance the accessibility of physical spaces, websites, and apps.‍}
• _{Provide staff training to ensure all employees can effectively support disabled customers}

The Impact of Accessibility on Disabled People

For disabled people, especially those with visual impairments, access to everyday services can be challenging. Navigating transport systems, shopping, and using digital tools often come with barriers that need to be addressed. Accessibility isn’t just about compliance; it’s about creating an inclusive world where everyone can participate equally.

For example, VIPs often struggle with the following:

• _{Navigating unfamiliar transport systems.}
• _{Identifying landmarks or important stops without visual cues.}
• _{Using digital tools that lack accessible features.}

At Travel Hands, we see these challenges firsthand, and we work to provide tailored solutions. Our service connects VIPs with trained Travel Hands Guides who assist with navigating transport systems and public spaces. We ensure  VIPs can travel confidently, independently, and safely.

Why Accessibility in Travel Matters

For visually impaired people, travelling presents unique challenges:

• _{Unfamiliar transport systems can be overwhelming.}
• _{Lack of visual cues makes it difficult to identify important landmarks or stops.}
• _{Many apps and digital tools aren’t designed with accessibility in mind.}

At Travel Hands, we believe everyone should have the freedom to travel confidently, regardless of their visual abilities. That's why we provide a service specifically designed to meet the needs of visually impaired travellers.

How Travel Hands Aligns with Purple Tuesday’s Mission

At Travel Hands, we are proud to support Purple Tuesday and its mission for more inclusive travel:

• _{Simplified Travel for VIPs: We connect VIP with Travel Hands Guides who provide on-the-ground assistance, ensuring safe, stress-free travel through call centre bookings, emails or through an accessible tech app.}
• _{Accessible Digital Platforms: Our app is designed with accessibility at its core, offering an easy-to-use interface for VIPs to book journeys and communicate with guides. We follow accessibility guidelines and user test with our VIP community periodically. ‍}
• _{Empowering Communities: Beyond travel, we engage with our community through events like the VIP and Travel Hands Community Walks, which foster connections and build confidence for VIPs.}

Purple Tuesday 2024: Key Takeaways

This year, Purple Tuesday has highlighted the importance of lasting change. Across the UK, businesses pledged to improve accessibility by enhancing their customer service and website usability for visually impaired users.

For us at Travel Hands, Purple Tuesday serves as a reminder of why we do what we do: to break down barriers and help VIP travel independently and confidently.

How You Can Support Accessibility

Creating a more accessible world requires all of us to take action. Here’s how you can get involved:

• _{Volunteer as a Travel Hands Guide: Help someone travel with confidence by joining our community of dedicated guides.}
• _{Advocate for Accessibility: Encourage businesses to adopt inclusive practices in their services and customer interactions.‍}
• _{Support Accessible Organisations: Choose to engage with companies that actively promote accessibility.}

Together Towards an Inclusive Future

At Travel Hands, we believe that accessibility should be the standard, not the exception. Purple Tuesday is a timely reminder that meaningful change starts with each of us. Whether through volunteering, advocating for inclusivity, or simply raising awareness, we can all play a part in creating a more accessible world for everyone.

Let’s continue to embrace the spirit of Purple Tuesday—not just in November, but every day of the year. Together, we can build a future where travel is accessible to all.

‍