Creating Inclusive Centres
We’re committed to understanding and responding to locally specific community needs and adapting to the needs of a changing population.
Our Approach to Inclusion
We approach the adaptation of our centres in a number of ways, including:
Community led design
We want our centres to serve the community today and in the future. We aim to do this by involving individuals from across all sections of the community in the design process. At Brent Cross, the Consultative Access Forum considers, reviews and comments on the development. It is chaired by the leading disability and inclusive design consultant Tracey Proudlock.
Understanding and adapting to mental health issues
We are focused on developing Dementia-friendly centres. It is estimated that by 2021 there will be over one million people with dementia in the UK. We want our centres to be safe and welcoming places for everyone. We’re doing this by encouraging staff to become Dementia Friends and providing guidance/training for our staff and tenants.
Celebrating diversity
Our centres and developments are located in the heart of some of the most diverse communities in the world. Each centre/development has a community plan, which is underpinned by understanding the needs of the particular community. We regularly work with organisations and local people to involve them in developments and centre activities.
Healthy Communities
We work with national and local stakeholders to encourage customers to lives and eat in a healthy manner. This includes working with charities to promote healthy living and commissioning projects, such as the work we have undertaken with Zest to create a recipe book. We also work and fund charities such as Cancer Research and Samaritans.
Working in Partnership
Working with local organisations is key to understanding the local needs, and to developing solutions that work. We have a large number of community partners, with whom we work closely to develop community programmes of activity, and new ways of working. Our key partners with regards to inclusion are:
Alzheimer’s Society
Marie Curie Cancer Care
Zest
Retail Trust
Sports Inspired
Shop mobility
Movember
Ladies Fighting Breast Cancer
Glasgow SW Foodbank
Birmingham Children's Hospital
Elifar
Cancer Research
