Introducing the first and only blue badge leather wallet crafted right here in the UK! Indulge in the timeless allure of premium quality with our Leather Disabled Blue Badge Holder come in 4 beautiful colours, skillfully made from soft and distressed Italian leather.
This stylish wallet is not only a treat for the eyes but also designed for practicality. Specifically created to display a blue parking badge and timer clock, it ensures convenience without compromising on aesthetics. Easily chnage the clock without removing it from the wallet.
Durability is a top priority in our craftsmanship. Our leather wallet features warp-resistant reinforcement, making it highly resilient to damage caused by soaring temperatures inside a car.
Our exclusive Hologram Safe © design guarantees that holograms on permits are never covered, ensuring their protection, and compliy with Department of Transport guidelines. Each wallet includes a free timer clock, adding more value to your purchase without any additional cost.
Our range of impeccably handcrafted leather products are made in Nottingham, UK, using authentic Italian leather, and proudly bears our logo embosed on the front. The soft and distressed Italian leather gives them a distinctive vintage finish.
By choosing our products, you contribute to an inclusive, accessible business and support UK manufacturing.
Embrace the perfect blend of sophistication and functionality with our Blue Badge Leather Wallet. Elevate your in car experience while supporting local craftsmanship – get yours now!
Support inclusivity and elegance, shop our exclusive Blue Badge Leather Wallet today!
]]>Plan an Accessible Outing: Research and organize an outing or activity that accommodates your father's specific needs. Consider wheelchair-accessible venues, sensory-friendly environments, or activities that can be enjoyed by individuals with mobility limitations. It could be a trip to a museum, a picnic in a park with accessible facilities, or even a relaxing day at home with his favorite movies or books. Be sure to bring a Radar Key with you! Our Radar Key will unlock exclusive access to disabled toilets and facilities, ensuring a hassle-free and comfortable outing for your father. Purchase a Radar Key HERE.
Personalized Gifts: Create a heartfelt and personalized gift that reflects your father's interests and hobbies. It could be a scrapbook filled with cherished memories, a custom-made piece of artwork, or a video montage showcasing special moments together. Tailor the gift to his abilities and preferences, ensuring it brings joy and a sense of connection. Shop our personalised Lap Tray HERE.
Quality Time and Conversation: Sometimes, the most meaningful gift is spending quality time together. Engage in activities that your father enjoys and facilitates bonding. It could be playing board games, cooking a favorite meal together, or simply having a heartfelt conversation where you actively listen to his experiences, challenges, and triumphs.
Assistive Devices and Gadgets: Consider gifting assistive devices or gadgets that can enhance your father's independence and daily life. This might include items such as adaptive technology, accessible household tools, or specialized recreational equipment. Check out our latest range of living aids HERE.
Thoughtful Gestures: Small acts of kindness and thoughtfulness can go a long way in making Father's Day special. Offer to take care of household chores, prepare his favorite meal, or organize a surprise visit from friends or family members who hold a special place in his heart. These gestures demonstrate your love, support, and appreciation.
Community Involvement: Engage your local community or disability organizations to create inclusive Father's Day events or activities. This could involve collaborating with others to organize accessible gatherings, awareness campaigns, or even support groups for fathers with disabilities. By fostering a sense of belonging and inclusivity, you can make a positive impact not only on your own father but also on others in similar situations.
Remember, the most important aspect is to show your father that you value him, his unique experiences, and the love he brings to your life. By considering his abilities and interests, you can create a Father's Day celebration that is truly special and meaningful for him.
]]>Spend Quality Time Together. Spend quality time with your mother on Mother's Day. You can enjoy a movie or TV show together, play board games, or simply have a conversation. Make sure to give her your undivided attention and show her how much you value her.
Plan an Accessible Outing. Planning an accessible outing is a great way to celebrate Mother's Day. It could be something as simple as a picnic in the park or a visit to her favorite restaurant. If your mother has mobility issues, make sure the place is wheelchair accessible or has accommodations that meet her needs. Check our Accessible Accommodation, Travel and Holidays guide for more information! With a Radar Key, she can easily access over 9,000 locked accessible restrooms across the UK! Buy a Radar Key HERE.
Make Her a Special Meal Prepare your mother's favorite meal or bake her favorite dessert. You can also make it a family affair and involve everyone in the cooking process or surprise her with a special breakfast in bed on a lap tray. She will surely love it in one of our comfortable and convenient, beanbag lap trays which you can check here.
Give Her a Thoughtful Gift A thoughtful gift can go a long way in showing your love and appreciation for your mother. It doesn't have to be expensive; a handwritten letter or a homemade craft can be just as meaningful. If you don't know what to give her yet, check out our products here. You will surely find something she'll love and be able to use for her day to day life!
Help Her with Chores or Tasks If your mother has a disability that limits her mobility or ability to perform certain tasks, offer to help her with chores or tasks that she may find difficult. It could be something as simple as helping with laundry or cleaning the house.
Get Creative with Technology If you're unable to be with your mother on Mother's Day, technology can help you stay connected. You could set up a virtual visit, send her a personalized video message, or organize a virtual game night.
In conclusion, Mother's Day is an important day to show your love and appreciation for your mother, especially if she has a disability. With a little bit of thought and effort, you can make the day extra special for her and create memories that will last a lifetime.
]]>The value of disabled people, including people with long term health conditions, is under recognised in the workplace. Having an inclusive team represents the world around us. Over 40% of our team here at Blue Badge Company is either disabled or a primary caregiver. We have, and always will be proud to support and encourage people. That’s why we ensure our workplace is an inclusive environment and this is why we've joined the Disability Confident Scheme.
Disabled people are over a third less likely to be in employed than non-disabled people. Disabled people bring value and talent to the workplace and the Disability Confident scheme encourages employers to recognise these attributes and nurture them. It also focuses on a change in understanding and attitude towards disability. In turn, this gives disabled people the opportunity to pursue meaningful work, allowing them to fulfil their potential. It shows businesses that taking away barriers opens opportunities. This allows them to employ an inclusive team. It shows the value and experiences of employees with a disability.
Being part of the Disability Confident Scheme means we're committed to having a workplace that is inclusive. It provides opportunities to people who may find it more difficult finding work. One of our values is to continue to pioneer inclusive employment. This has been important to us since we started back in 2013. We have made it official by joining the government's Disability Confident Scheme. Blue Badge Co is now accredited and Disability Confident Committed. We're looking forward to working towards the next level of the scheme.
Our Disability Confident 'Committed' status means we're part of the nationwide scheme. Joining the scheme means we have promised to abide by certain values. For us to stay part of the scheme, we must renew our certificate every few years. Renewing our accreditation shows we are keeping our promises about inclusivity.
Laura is a Picker and Packer here at Blue Badge Co. She joined the team while working with Sixteen Co-operative Ltd. They support people with a learning disability or autism. They help people find and keep a job they love. After doing some work experience, Laura was looking for a paid job. The things that were important to Laura in her job search were something creative, a small team and a job that had the same routine.
Laura’s job coach got in touch and the rest is history. So we could get to know each other, Laura explained, “instead of an interview, I did a work trial to get an understanding of the job. They asked me questions at the end. They were really impressed with me and they offered me the job while I was on holiday! I felt happy and excited!”
We’re delighted that Laura accepted the offer to join our team. “I had a job coach support me when I started, they helped me learn the role, and talk to my manager if need any help. Now I am doing my job independently.”
Laura recently shared her story about her journey to employment with the support of her job coach from Sixteen Co-operative Ltd. “What difference has it made having a job? It has made a lot of difference. I am now out of the house and I am earning my own money, it has really helped me with my confidence.”
Why have we joined Disability Confident?
We want to be part of the scheme as it is part of the bigger picture. A shift in attitude towards people with long term health conditions and disabilities. It's so important to us to be part of the change. Uniting to create opportunity and awareness is amazing.
Disabled people face lots of barriers finding a job. Seeing beyond this is incredibly important. Someone can be great at a job if they are given the chance to thrive. The scheme encourages adjustments which creates inclusivity. These changes mean employers see the great benefits that inclusivity brings. Not only people’s potential experience and knowledge, but a different perspective.
Please visit our jobs section here for the latest vacancies.
]]>October 2021
Purple Tuesday is an initiative created by Purple - an organisation that believes in bringing disabled people and businesses together to change the conversation from one of disadvantage and inequality to one about potential and value for all parties involved.
Tuesday 2nd of November is a day dedicated to Accessible Shopping and meaningful conversations around the subject of inclusion and accessibility.
#PurpleTuesday is about creating a step-change improvement in the awareness of the value and needs of disabled customers, and it is about making the customer experience accessible.
We are proud participants of the initiative, as inclusion and acceptance have always been pillars of the Blue Badge Co-culture.
We implemented a new website last year that is more accessible and easier for customers to use. We are invested in releasing new products that can help make a difference in people's lives each year. We hope that more and more organisations will open a path towards the disability market.
Sarah Newton, ex UK Minister for Disabled People, Work and Health
Providing an accessible shopping experience is not only a matter of legal compliance but ethically crucial. Offering goods and services in ways that potentially discriminate against a fifth of your customer base is outrageous.
An initiative from RNIB shows us one of the many struggles disabled customers face daily. This video shines a light on the shopping experience considering packaging, something we all take for granted.
How would your shopping experience change is you could only see the colour of the packaging and no information?
There is so much more to weigh in: e-commerce, physical access, user interface design of menus and apps, education, alt descriptions on Social Media and the list keeps growing.
The Click-Away Pound survey found that 71% of disabled customers will leave a website that they find too difficult to use and 82% of customers with access needs would spend more if websites were more accessible. Those who click away have an estimated combined spending power of GBP 12bn, around 10% of the total UK online spend in 2016.
As the numbers shout, failing to provide an accessible shopping experience is a gigantic missed opportunity for retailers. We are proud to be part of the 10% minority that cares about accessibility and improves daily to ensure a flawless shopping experience to all.
There are four key terms to keep in mind when designing the perfect website: Perceivable, Operable, Understandable and Robust. If you're not entirely sure what that means, don't worry, we're going to break it down below:
Perceivable:The web is used for so many purposes, whether that be for work, education or shopping. It is part of everyone’s day to day life, therefore it is essential that people with disabilities are catered for as well to ensure that nobody is missing out.
When you shop at Blue Badge Co remember we are committed to enhance independence and enriching the lives of all disabled people in the UK and around the world. When shopping with us, feel free to share any feedback that could help us improve.
Statistics used within this blog were taken from monsido
]]>Born to affluent middle-class parents, Morris had a privileged upbringing and a large inheritance that ensured he would never need to earn an income. Despite this, his life tells the tale of a man determined to forge his own path in the world. He didn't pay much mind to his class's social conventions or society's expectations for him.
William Morris developed a keen sense of social responsibility while studying at Oxford University's Exeter College, where he became enamoured with Medieval history and architecture. This fascination extended into his artistic sensibilities influencing his design style for the rest of his life.
He began his artistic career as an architecture apprentice in Oxford, where he met and fell in love with a working-class stableman's daughter Jane Burden, defying once again the rules of his class. Jane was a striking beauty and became an accomplished intellectual and skilled embroiderer in her own right.
In 1860, Morris and Jane moved into Red House, designed and built especially for them. They furnished and decorated it with help from their artistic circle members. Rejecting the time's interior design preferences, they filled the house with ornate murals and hand-embroidered fabric.
This experience prompted him and his friends to establish an interiors company in 1861: Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co.
The artist had finally settled on the career that would make his name!
The company was committed to rejecting industrial manufacturing and contemporary capitalism in favour of a return to hand-craftsmanship. Morris strongly felt that artisans should be respected as artists and that art should be affordable and hand-made. He began to design his first wallpapers, creating the iconic patterns that we still use on our products today.
Eventually, Morris would become the sole proprietor of the design firm, which became the Morris & Co we know today.
At Blue Badge Co, we have always been proud to carry Morris' fabrics. His commitment to artisan manufacturing and hand-made items particularly resonates with us, as well as his philosophy.
"No work which cannot be done with pleasure in the doing is worth doing".
We take so much pleasure and pride in what we do that we have decided to expand, launching a second brand, Green&Heath.
Evolved from a deep love for British designs and craftsmanship - it is centred around creating products from indulgently beautiful, vintage-influenced textiles that draw inspiration from history for a highly decorative, maximalist heirloom flair.
Green&Heath creates a sense of artistic playfulness and soft drama with home accessories and wellbeing treats which reimagine tradition with a modern twist.
We thought it appropriate to make our new brand the home for the William Morris Collection. You can now find Sheep's Wool Cushions, Lap Trays, Lampshades, Fabric Storage Boxes, Relaxing Eye Masks, Wheat Warmers, Door Stops and Hot Water Bottles on Green&Heath.
]]>An August 2020 Citizens Advice report entitled ‘An Unequal Crisis’ found that one in four working disabled people were currently facing redundancy, this rose to 37% for people who said their disability had a large impact on their day to day life. In addition, they found that half of people who were required to shield were at risk of redundancy, and that two in five parents or carers were in danger of losing their jobs.
Image Source: Citizens Advice
Citizens Advice CEO, Dame Gillian Guy said that there are ‘worrying signs that disabled workers, people who shielded, parents and carers are being pushed to the front of the queue when it comes to redundancy’. This is in direct contradiction to the Equality Act, which should prevent employment decisions being made due to disability, and requires that reasonable adjustments be made for disabled employees - yet it seems that businesses are not considering respecting someone’s obligation to shield as a reasonable adjustment. Contact Centre Manager at Citizens Advice Manchester, Jamie McGlynn, highlighted a case where a lady with underlying health conditions told her employer she felt unsafe returning to work as another worker had Covid symptoms but wasn’t isolating. A week later she was given her redundancy notice.
Even when disabled employees manage to keep their jobs, those that need to isolate are being failed by statutory sick pay. The current rate of SSP is just £96 a week, as the TUC have noted, this is about one-fifth of people’s average weekly earnings, so if the average worker is off sick for a week, they lose around 80% of their earnings. At the best of times, this policy penalises people for being ill, right now it penalises those with health conditions for obeying government guidelines by staying home. People who have to isolate for two weeks will lose, on average, £800. A TUC/BritainThinks study shows that 43% of workers would be unable to pay their bills or would have to go into debt after only two weeks on SSP.
For a start, the TUC states that SSP needs to be raised to the equivalent of a week’s living wage, £326, preventing people from having to make the agonising decision of whether to fall into debt or force themselves to work when ill - causing danger to themselves and their co-workers. Disability charity Leonard Cheshire also highlights SSP improvements as one of the things that can most assist disabled people in gaining employment equality. Additionally, they propose the funding of a “Purple Passport’ scheme, where disabled employees hold a passport-style document that outlines the adjustments and support they need at work, meaning they don’t need to re-apply for adjustments when they move roles. It seems that we also need to continue striving for better representation and understanding of the discrimination disabled people face as, despite the evidence to the contrary, nearly half of british people surveyed thought that those who lost their jobs during Covid did so as they were underperforming.
If you would like to help make employment fairer for disabled people, you can sign the TUC’s petition for a liveable sick wage here
]]>In 2019, the Department for Transport worked with specialists to expand the badges eligibility criteria to include people with invisible disabilities, described as those "who cannot walk as part of a journey without considerable psychological distress or the risk of serious harm". Each relevant local authority decides if an applicant meets the eligibility criteria but those decisions have not been fair for many.
The BBC Shared Data Unit obtained Freedom of Information Act responses from councils across the UK. This data shows drastically lower approval rates for applicants with invisible conditions compared to those with physical impairments.
Councils with the most considerable disparity between approval rates said that they had followed government guidance and assisted applicants with providing supporting medical evidence.
The PIP test is what the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) use to decide whether you are entitled to Personal Independence Payment.
People with a disability and their carers have often complained online about how stressful dealing with PIP assessments during the pandemic has been. Some have seen their support taken away, while others have had to appeal and fight for their loved one's allowance to be reinstated.
A popular opinion amongst the internauts is that the system is extremely complicated on purpose, as an attempt to discourage anyone who might be lying about their condition. The feeling is that they don't take into account those who are genuinely disabled and need it to be easy.
The stressful bureaucracy didn't help individuals struggling with anxiety and fear while shielding and isolating for months due to the virus.
Carers of both children and adults with intellectual disability had significantly greater feelings of defeat/entrapment, anxiety, and depression during lockdown. Differences were 2–3 times greater than reported in earlier pre‐pandemic studies. Positive correlations were found between objective stress scores and all mental health outcomes. Despite their more significant mental health needs, carers of those with an intellectual disability received less social support from various sources, according to a study published in October 2020 by JARID, the Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities.
Have you experienced any of the above struggles? We would love to hear your thoughts about these subjects.
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There are a few rules to follow:
We will randomly select the winner on Thursday the 14th of November and announce it the same day.
Please Note: read carefully our competition Terms and Conditions before joining in.
"I love the order and regiment of repetition and how everything can be patterned in this way, as if you are looking at the world through a prism or kaleidoscope."
Orla Kiely from her book entitled - Pattern
We all know we should do more of it, and crucial to all significant brain and bodily functions. But when it comes to it, do we actually get enough time between the sheets?
Now, don't be smutty! I'm talking about how to sleep better!
I'm writing this post for my own benefit as much as anyone else's. If anyone needs to take this advice, it's me!Some people need more sleep than others, but the National Sleep Foundation recommends 7-9 hours for an average adult.
We should all know by now that technology before bed is a bad idea. Yet we still find ourselves checking messages, online shopping, playing computer games or browsing the internet at bedtime!
A Sleep in America® poll by the National Sleep Foundation (NSF) found "Artificial light exposure between dusk and the time we go to bed at night suppresses the release of the sleep-promoting hormone melatonin, enhances alertness and shifts circadian rhythms to a later hour—making it more difficult to fall asleep".
So staring at a screen before bedtime tricks our brain into being as alert as if it were daytime. We need to shut down the devices at least an hour before we intend on going to bed.
Our bodies and minds respond exceptionally well to routine. Formulating a sleep routine is a great way to develop better sleeping habits. The advice is to start by getting up earlier rather than chasing the extra few minutes you can grasp before you absolutely must get up. The (apparently proven) theory is that eventually, you start falling asleep earlier too.
Set a time in your head to BEGIN getting ready for bed. Allow time to do all the things you need to do before getting into bed and give yourself a cut off for actually getting into bed. If you want to be asleep by 11pm, for example, you probably need to be starting this routine at 9.30 - 10pm. (I tell myself unrealistically!)
I grew up with a lavender bag at my bedside, made by my mum, so the scent for me has the added soothing properties of cosy memories.
Research has proved that Lavender can, indeed, promote better sleep. Use a few drops of essential oil or a pillow mist on your pillowcase. You could put a scented lavender bag under your pillow and hang it near you. Breathe in the soothing scent to relax your mind and help you to drift off.
Sometimes it's external influences that get in the way of a good night's sleep. If you can't change where you sleep or what goes on around you, you may be able to change something to help you clock up some extra zzz's...
I started wearing earplugs and an eye mask as a student when I was up all night (writing essays, of course!) and needing to catch up on sleep in the mornings. I experimented with various kinds and found the foam ones to be the best. If you've ever tried them without success, the trick is in the positioning.
You need to roll them up to make a tight point at the end before inserting them. Hold your ear near the top and pull up; now, quickly push the earplug in before it expands. Hold the earplug in place by gently pressing it into your ear as it grows. Adjust for comfort; if it's in too far, it will hurt. If it's not in far enough, it will pop out.
Now enjoy a peaceful night's sleep wherever you are! The great thing is you will still be able to hear the most critical noises, such as the smoke alarm, but all other sound becomes muffled and irrelevant.
Another tip, when removing earplugs, don't pull them straight out. Squash them against the side of your ear to break the seal before pulling!
Here, we have an absolute favourite to recommend! Our sister brand signature lavender filled velvet Velvet Eye Masks in William Morris designs. The super-soft velvet lining is comfortable on the eyelids, and the elasticated velvet headband keeps it gently in position. Filled with natural lavender grains, the mask has a satisfying weight to it that feels restful in itself.
Add to that the heavenly scent of Lavender, and sleep is just a whisper away...
You can cool it in the freezer to relieve the pain of tired or dry eyes.
If you go to bed full up, your body is busy digesting and produces many gastric acids. You don't want this in your oesophagus! If you lie down too soon after a big meal, it can cause acid reflux. Too much acid in the oesophagus too often could potentially cause long term damage.
Going to sleep hungry can also keep you awake!
Eating a healthy snack sometime between dinner & bedtime is actually a good idea. Avoid protein, apparently healthy carbohydrates eaten with good fats are best for rest. Some examples are banana & avocado, sweet potato & coconut oil, berries & cream. Cut Down, Or Cut Out,
Easier said than done, I know! Personally, I'm a sucker for a strong black coffee at about 10am every day. If I have guests or feel indulgent, I'll make frothy milk to go with it and sprinkle cinnamon on top. That's after my early morning cup of tea in bed and before the 2 or three other cups of tea, I'll have with neighbours or my husband after work... However, I regularly cut down then cut out caffeine for several weeks to stop things from getting out of hand!
That coffee turns into two, the number of teas escalates... So I reign myself in, and the many benefits are clear, most notably better sleep. I'm off caffeine now as it happens, only 2 days in so far, and I'm genuinely enjoying some heavenly herbal teas from PukkaWrite Down Your To-Do.
Now this one I can do. I find it a beneficial way of stopping my mind from racing around, fretting about everything to remember to do the next day. Simply write down anything that is playing on your mind at bedtime, and rest assured that you won't have forgotten whatever it is in the morning.
Exercising early in the day can help your body to relax easier at bedtime. Apparently, the ideal type of sleep-friendly exercise is 20 mins of cardiovascular workout several hours before bed. You might think working out makes you tired and would be a perfect way to end the day but exercising too soon before bed can be overstimulating. Try to get active earlier on and leave at least 3 hours of wind down time before hitting the hay.
For a comprehensive, informative guide with even more tips on how to improve your sleep, visit A Sleepy Wolf.