More than 80 businesses in Ipswich pledged to become assistance dog-friendly
It's after a recent rise in Guide Dog users being refused entry
Over 80 businesses and organisations have signed a pledge to be assistance dog friendly, including Ipswich icons like Bella Napoli, The Salutation and St Nicholas Sandwich Shop.
According to the charity Guide Dogs, 88% of Guide Dog users have been refused entry to businesses and services in the past year, 46% of those surveyed have been refused entry into taxis.
To fix this problem, Let’s Assist Ipswich has petitioned local businesses to sign a pledge that commits themselves to uphold the standards laid out in the Equality Act (2010) and ensure that Ipswich is accessible and friendly towards assistance dogs and their owners.
Other businesses and organisations to have signed the pledge include: Cookie Barista, Uniform Research, Threads for All, Honey and Harvey, Zest, Dial Lane Books, Jamaica Blue, and On the Huh.
The accompanying social media campaign has reached over 10,000 views across Instagram, Facebook and X. Physical posters have also been put up in businesses around Ipswich.
Let’s Assist Ipswich is a youth campaign, run by participants of Ipswich MP Jack Abbott’s summer school. They are a group of nine 18-24-year-olds who come from a range of backgrounds, all working towards the mission of creating an accessible Ipswich.