Centre to hold Sensory Sundays

A Fife retail centre is set to launch a sensory-friendly initiative to help improve the shopping experience for people with noise processing conditions.

The Kingdom Shopping Centre in Glenrothes will hold the sessions on the last Sunday of every month between 12 noon and 4pm.

Noise levels will be greatly reduced with background music turned off and tannoy announcements kept to a bare minimum.

Hand dryers in the toilets will also be isolated during the Sensory Sundays which are to launch on September 30.

Special kit bags are to be made available for shoppers which have been created to help people overcome intense situations. The bags include ear plugs, fidget spinners and a stress reliever toy.

Staff employed at the shopping centre have previously undertaken training with Alzheimer Scotland to help support people living with conditions that may impact how they shop.

David Carson, centre manager, said “We fully appreciate that shopping experiences can be stressful at times, especially for those who experience a sensory condition meaning they can be sensitive to noise and light.

“We hope that by offering our Sensory Sundays, visitors can shop in a more enjoyable environment and we are encouraging our retailers to back this initiative too.”