Breaking Down Barriers with Makaton
Morgan's Butchery, a family-run business on the Cambridgeshire, Essex, and Suffolk border, has recently taken steps to ensure that inclusivity is at the heart of their business.
The Nicholas family, who took over the butchery in April 2023, have made it their mission to create a welcoming environment for all customers, regardless of their communication needs. Below, they share their journey and the impact of becoming Makaton Aware on both their business and the local community.
“At Morgan's Butchery, inclusivity has always been a core focus for us. Master Butcher Miles Nicholas, who has multiple disabilities following a stroke, knows firsthand the challenges of living with a communication disability. One of the biggest difficulties he faces is his speech and language disability, which has made even everyday tasks, like ordering a coffee, a stressful experience.
Becoming Makaton Aware
It was clear to us that we wanted to make shopping at Morgan's Butchery a pleasant and accessible experience for everyone. One of the first steps we took was to implement simple yet impactful changes, such as offering braille and large print price lists. These adjustments have already made a huge difference for many of our customers, and becoming Makaton Aware felt like the perfect next step on our journey.
We now have Makaton symbols available throughout the store, and all of our staff are confident at using Makaton signs too. Being Makaton Aware allows us to better serve customers with communication difficulties, helping them feel more comfortable and confident when they shop with us.
Leading by Example
As well as being the director of Morgan's Butchery, I also have extensive experience in supporting children and young adults with disabilities. This has motivated me to drive these changes at Morgan's Butchery, and we are excited to continue building an environment that welcomes and supports all members of our community.
We hope that other larger businesses will follow suit and begin implementing these simple but powerful solutions in their own stores. It doesn’t take much to make a significant impact on the lives of people living with disabilities—small changes can break down big barriers.
By making these adjustments, we hope to inspire other businesses to consider how they can make their services more inclusive. It’s not just about following a trend—it’s about making sure that everyone, regardless of their abilities, feels valued and included.”
Click here to learn more about Makaton Aware