The Playhouse - Playhouse Wins Service Excellence Award

Playhouse Theatre wins Service Excellence Award from Guide Dogs for the Blind

The Playhouse Theatre of Weston-super-Mare received a service excellence award from a local guide dog owner, recognising the high standards of customer care given to blind and partially sighted people.

Guide dog owner Roy Cox visited the premises when on holiday from Wiltshire and received such a warm welcome and assistance before, during and after the performance, that he nominated the theatre for the award. He was particularly impressed with the attention that was paid to him, with a member of staff escorting him to his seat and ensuring that he had refreshments during the break. Says Roy: "I had such a wonderful experience when I visited the theatre that I felt it was very appropriate to nominate them for this award. Myself and my guide dog Ollie were taken straight to out seats and there was always someone there to ask if I needed assistance – fantastic service that deserves their certificate".

The Playhouse Theatre, Weston-super-Mare is owned and operated by North Somerset Council. Council leader and executive member with responsibility for The Playhouse Theatre, Councillor Alan Hockridge, said: "As a community-based venue, we are keen to encourage patrons with disabilities to visit the theatre and experience the quality entertainment on offer.

"This award reinforces The Playhouse Theatre's reputation as one of the most welcoming venues in the region, and that is largely down to our dedicated and caring staff. The high standards of customer care ensures that the theatre is regularly used by blind and partially-sighted patrons , together with their guide dogs

"We have a strong commitment to our patrons with disabilities and have several facilities in place to help blind and partially-sighted patrons, hearing-impaired patrons and those with mobility problems. In addition to the physical facilities such as lifts, Braille signs, and specific toilets, we have two audio-described performances and two signed performances of our forthcoming family pantomime, Dick Whittington.

"I am very pleased that Mr Cox and Ollie enjoyed their visit so much, and am very honoured that our council chairman, Councillor Roz Willis, will be accepting the award for service excellence from the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association on behalf of North Somerset Council, The Playhouse Theatre and our staff."

The presentation is part of The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association's Open Your Doors 'Golden Ribbon' campaign, which aims to educate service providers about how they can best serve visually impaired customers.

Guide Dogs' Director of Public Policy and Development, Tom Pey, explains: "Although there are many examples of good practice, guide dog owners continue to encounter problems accessing a variety of environments from shops, hotels, pubs, and restaurants, to public transport and high street pedestrian areas. We are working with all sections of the service industry to ensure that in the 75^th anniversary of guide dogs in the UK, they and their owners receive the same standard of service as everybody else.

"Highlighting good practice will help to make it the norm, so that in the future, our vision of doors always being open to blind and partially sighted people and their guide dogs will become reality."

To mark the campaign, Guide Dogs has launched a pocket sized reference guide, entitled Opening Doors, for everyone who works in the service industry. It outlines the obligations of service providers, and gives practical advice and tips on how to provide a quality service for visually impaired people and assistance dog users.

The campaign highlights rights for disabled people under the Disability Discrimination Act, which from October 2004 has required service providers to make 'reasonable adjustments' to their premises. They will need to ensure that there are no physical barriers stopping or making it unreasonably difficult for guide dog owners, other blind and partially sighted customers, and all assistance dogs users (see note to editor for definition) to use their services.

Businesses can find out more, and order free copies of the Opening Doors pocket guide by phoning 0118 983 8281, e-mailing chris.dyson@guidedogs.org.uk or logging-on to the charity's website: www.guidedogs.org.uk