MORRISONS has launched an autism-friendly ‘quieter hour’ for Malvern shoppers who struggle with music and noise.
The supermarket has worked with the National Autistic Society to create a calmer shopping experience on Saturday mornings.
From 9am to 10am, the lights will be dimmed in the store on Springfield Drive and the music and radio will be turned off.
Tannoy announcements will also be avoided, checkout beeps and other electrical noises will be turned down, and trolley and basket movements will be kept to a minimum.
Daniel Cadey, from the National Autistic Society, said: “Around 700,000 people are on the autism spectrum in the UK.
“This means they see, hear and feel the world differently to other people, often in a more intense way.
“Morrisons ‘Quieter Hour’ is a step in the right direction for autistic people who find supermarket shopping a real struggle.”
The scheme follows a survey which found one in five customers had a friend or family member with autism and has been rolled out nationally after a successful trial at stores in Woking, Lincoln and Gainsborough earlier this year.
