Additional Needs
Siblings and schools
by Sarah Paull
on 2nd October, 2023
Why I Love the Firefly GoTo Shop
My son Brody is 6 years old and unable to walk for a long time around a supermarket.
He is too big for standard trolleys now and I can't push his wheelchair and a shopping trolley at the same time.
This is most likely something a lot of people don’t think about - because let’s face it, they don’t have to!
But it really is a problem for many families.
Luckily for us, our local Tesco store in Falkirk has a Firefly GoTo Shop shopping trolley.
It's a game changer for us and many other local families who walk in similar shoes.
It's great that Tesco took the initiative to have one of these in store and it’s fantastic that in doing so they’re promoting inclusion and access for all - something that all businesses should champion.
A simple thing like this can bring communities together and prevent isolation.
It also creates disability awareness. We’re not all the same, and that’s okay!
The GoTo Shop trolley seat not only means that I can take Brody shopping with me, it means that he is comfortable.
The seat offers extra postural and head support and a secure five-point harness.
I now have to avoid stores that don’t have a GoTo Shop Trolley because shopping with Brody is just not feasible on my own without one.
No family should be limited to where they can go to shop, but sadly many are.
When we are away from home, we know that we can use the Firefly Finder to find a store that caters for our needs.
I would love to see Firefly achieve their campaign aim of seeing a GoTo Shop trolley in #everysupermarket.
If you feel the same way, speak to your store manager and make them aware of the GoTo Shop Trolley.
You can find a leaflet on the Firefly website here, which you can also print off and hand in.
Small things really do make a big difference.
Stuart Milk said that “we are less if we don’t include everyone” and he was right. Inclusion should always be a priority.
Every little helps!
