There are student discounts and NHS discounts but what about disabled people?

Albus_Scope
Albus_Scope Posts: 8,471 Scope Online Community Coordinator
edited October 2024 in Everyday life

Hey there folks, so recently I'm sure we've all been looking for ways of saving money. There's numerous sites out there for students and NHS workers, but disabled folk seem to be missing out on the money saving action. Luckily I've been chatting to the wonderful people at Purpl Discounts. Read on to discover more about them. 😁

Georgina Colman lives with Multiple Sclerosis and she has first-hand experience how expensive life is when you live as a disabled person. From holistic therapies to assisted technologies and mobility aids, the costs quickly added up. Additionally, her body's intolerance to cold weather leads to higher heating bills, further increasing her monthly costs.

She says, “Living with a disability brings significant financial challenges, with extra costs averaging £1,100 per month, before I became disabled I had no idea of the financial impact it would have on my life but now I do, I want to help make a difference.

A couple of years ago, I was out shopping with my cousin. We were in a Highstreet store and as I was going to pay for my items, I noticed that they offered a student discount. In a very flippant comment, I said ‘my son can get a student discount, why can’t I get a disabled discount?’ The words stuck in my mind, I knew how expensive it was and could see that whilst brands happily give discounts to students, NHS, keyworkers, carers, and teachers - there was nothing to help the disabled community.”

Recognising a gap in the market Georgina created Purpl - the UK’s first discount programme for the disabled community which launched in July this year. Purpl aims to reduce the financial burden on disabled people by offering exclusive discounts on everyday products and services, with over 120 brand discounts available and more on the way.

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CEO and Founder, Georgina says: “I knew that I had to help my community, as it seemed unfair we’d been forgotten about, so this year, I launched Purple to help offset the cost of being disabled. As a true believer in everything happens for a reason, my disability has led me to create a business that I hope will make a positive difference to my disabled community.

It’s really important for me to express here that Purpl is not just about discounts - it’s about bringing people together. Our blog is filled with stories from disabled people, this is key not only for inspiring others but also for shared learning. My experiences with my long-term health condition might be valuable to someone else who has the same disabilities. I also know that no one gives you a handbook when you become disabled, so I want to also ensure we have relevant information and signposting for further advice.”

And in true ‘with not for’ spirit, Purpl employs other disabled staff members, Amy Thompson is Social Media Manager, she also lives with MS and created the charity MS Together.

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Amy shares that when she first became diagnosed with MS “I started searching online for support – I wanted to see and speak to someone like me, someone I could relate to. I searched charity websites and social media but felt there was little representation of young adults living with MS. I decided I wanted to try and be that person for someone else.

In 2022, we were awarded a National Diversity Award for the work we did during the pandemic and at the end of 2022, we became a registered charity. As a charity, MS Together exists to provide services of advice and support to people affected by MS with a particular focus on people aged 18-35 living with MS in the UK and Ireland.”

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And some of you may recognise Purpl’s Marketing Manager, Sam Cleasby. Sam worked on the Scope online community between 2016 and 2019, she also is a disability advocate, blogging about Inflammatory Bowel Disease and life with a stoma on her blog So Bad Ass and doing talks all over the UK and Europe about disability and accessibility and has been both on, and shortlisted for, the Shaw Trust Power 100 of the most influential disabled people in the UK.

Sam says “Since leaving Scope in 2020, I have been incredibly ill, I’ve had multiple major surgeries and then got Sepsis after my bowel perforated. I spent eight weeks in hospital, in ICU and in a medicalised coma, and a further six months recovering with daily IV antibiotics. After a long period of healing, learning to walk and eat again, I began to look for work.

Over 100 applications later, I worried that due to the accommodations I needed to work, such as hybrid or remote working and flexible working, I would never find a job. In desperation, I shared a post on my Facebook and linked in profiles with my CV and experience and a plea for businesses to not overlook disabled candidates, and Georgina saw the post and got in touch! A month later I am working for the incredible Purpl!”

To register with Purpl discounts, you need to sign up with a document such as disability benefit letters, blue badge), disabled bus and train passes, the Access card, CEA card and more. And then you have access to a wide variety of discounts from hundreds of brands, more are added every day. There is also a great blog with real life community stories, guides and advice and disability news. You can also join the members only Facebook group where you can come and talk to the team and discover offers as soon as they go live on the website. 

Sam says: “Join the thousands of people who have already become Purpl savers, like Dawn who shared ‘I joined through Hoover when buying a washing machine. It saved us £50.00 so a huge thank you. My son has multiple disabilities, and the machine is on about 3 times a day, sometimes more, so we go through machines! Thank you!’

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