Some companies are taking up the Purple Tuesday initiative to make their company values align with the disabled community. This blog will outline how you can get involved and what Tenura is doing to ensure we provide inclusive customer service.

So, What’s Purple Tuesday All About

Fourteen million people in the UK live with a disability, equating to roughly 22% of the population. With that many people classified as having some form of disability, you’d think we would have better infrastructure as a nation to cope with the challenges the disabled community face.

 

We are excited to be taking part this year and joining in with over 5,000 organisations, pledging towards the Purple Tuesday campaign. Each organisation reflects inward to evaluate their customer service to make it a better experience for the disabled.

How Technology and Companies can Help

As technology and our understanding of disabilities continues to grow, the future for inclusivity is bright, which is precisely what Purple Tuesday is all about.

The technology push towards a more accessible customer experience is essential. It can start with ideas such as website accessibility, voice recognition devices, and providing different channels disabled customers can access your services. Companies coming up with technology advancements in the name of disability inclusion are fantastic, as all these changes can vastly improve a disabled person’s experience with your company.

Companies can make changes offline too, which includes; training staff helping them to communicate with disabled people, installing wheelchair ramps, and creating clear signage.

If you are a company that wants to join in on the Purple Tuesday campaign, you can via their website, you need to register, then pledge a commitment that will benefit disabled people using your company. Put your ideas into action and deliver on your goals, so you can celebrate your achievements when it comes to 2nd November.

 

How You Can Help

Those of you speaking out on social media, informing others about businesses stepping in the right direction and making those positive-discrimination steps is impactful. Helping companies recognise ways they can improve accessibility helps create the market pull, pulling companies in line with the values of the disabled community and beyond.

You can use the following hashtags to join in on the conversation:

• #PT2021
• #Purple­Tu­es­da­y2021
• #Disabi­lity­In­clu­sion
• #Acces­sibi­lity­ForAll

Tenura’s Pledge to Purple Tuesday

We aim to provide a better user experience for disabled people using the Tenura website. We want to be inclusive, and with products aimed at those who are disabled, it seems like a step in the right direction.

One step we have taken to reach our goal of a more inclusive website is a website audit. The website audit picks up areas where we can make our website accessible. We will be implementing these ideas in the coming years, as we have big plans, ranging from image naming formulas that aid those using screen readers to releasing a guide on website accessibility in the form of a blog.  We started our strategy last year and have been making small manageable steps towards our goal ever since. As I am sure you appreciate, these adaptations take both time and money.

To further help us towards our website accessibility goal, please send an email informing us of any website accessibility techniques you feel we could implement.

We want to show our appreciation to the community pledging towards a better future by offering you a 10% discount on all Tenura products via our website. Use the discount code PURPLETUES10 at checkout to redeem. 

This promotion is running from 26/10/21 to 16/11/21.

This blog post will explore the advantages both mentally and physically that owning a pet can have on someone with a disability such as arthritis.

Having a disability can affect your everyday life, harming your heart rate, communication and causing depression. However, a furry companion like a cat or dog can help to reverse the negative impact.

Owning a pet positively influences two main aspects of life, mood and health, which means pets affect the body in terms of decreasing rates of depression, blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Let's explore these benefits in more detail…

Pets and Their Effect on Blood Pressure and Arthritis

With arthritis, inflammation can occur in joints, constricting arteries and reducing the rate blood can flow through the body to supply muscles with oxygen. The restricted flow leads to increased blood pressure, which is troubling for arthritis patients as they are at a 50% higher risk of heart attacks.

So, it's essential to reduce blood pressure, and pets can help. Pets have therapeutic calming auras. When a pet is in your lap, you talk, stroke and nestle into its warmth, forgetting your worries, which decreases your heart rate. When you are tired or nervous, it's nice to have a companion.

Pets can make a person feel safe in their home or when out and about; animals can be a security blanket, guard the person or their belongings, and be a protective barrier or conversation starter. Feeling safe and secure can also lower levels of anxiety and stress that heighten blood pressure.

 

Pets and Their Effect on Cholesterol Levels and Arthritis

Those with rheumatoid arthritis are at high risk of heart disease, 50% to 70% higher, and cholesterol is a contributing factor. Having elevated cholesterol levels in the body increases pain within joints and other tendon complications.

You may have high cholesterol levels due to long periods of stress, a lack of exercise or a poor diet containing too many saturated fats. Studies have shown that pets decrease the triglycerides present in the body. Triglycerides are the three fatty acids that contribute to high cholesterol levels.

Reducing cholesterol in the body can help keep heart disease at bay. To lower cholesterol levels, you should exercise daily for at least 30 minutes, and having a pet is an excellent excuse to go for a walk and is undoubtedly a great benefit. Having a pet with you can reduce the stress or anxiety you may feel when out walking.

 

Pets and Their Effect on Cognitive Behaviour/­Depression

It's estimated that up to 41% of disabled adults have depression, which is staggeringly high, and there is no one cure to suit all. Many factors cause depression in a person's life, and it can be a struggle to help change a person's mindset.

The companionship of a pet, a being they need to care for, can give a disabled person the necessary motivation and responsibility for a positive change. Caring for others can come more naturally than caring for yourself when struggling with depression, so an animal's natural temperament to play and exercise can have promising long-lasting effects on their mental state.

 

Pets Effect on the Elderly

Pet owners over 65 visit their doctor 30% fewer times than non-pet owners. There's no clear-cut reason, but the benefits of reduced stress, increased exercise, and companionship all help play their role.

 

Some Tenura Products that Make Pet Ownership Easier for the Disabled:

Tenura products can help those who have weak grip strength or conditions like arthritis care for their pets.

Tenura Extreme Grip Mats

When it comes to feeding your pet, they tend to be pretty eager, diving headfirst into their food bowl, knocking it around the floor, with no worry about the mess they create. You can prevent this previously inevitable mess by placing the pet's food bowl onto a Tenura Extreme mat. Tenura Extreme mats stop the food bowl from sliding across the floor or getting tipped over.

Nothing is sacred when you have a pet, they wonder where they please, and cats especially seem to find themselves upon the cabinets displaying your favourite ornaments. Instead of watching their next steps with fright, place your vases and such on a Tenura Extreme mat. The objects stick to Tenura mats, so the next time your cat is up there, you won't need to worry nor tidy up anything broken. 

Tenura Grip Roll

You can line underneath pet products such as litter trays, scratching posts and other large products that unwantedly move. Just cut Tenura silicone grip roll to size and place it between the floor and pet accessory.

Tenura Grip Strips

During walks, you may find that the lead is tricky to keep a hold of, and it's uncomfortable. You can instantly improve these issues by twisting Tenura grip strips around the lead's handle. Grip strips add a layer of cushioning silicone comfort with grip-enhancing properties that stops the lead from sliding out of your hand.

Similarly, you may wrap Tenura grip strips around the brushes handle when grooming your pet, which aids your grip, giving you more control. Brush handles can be thin and difficult to grasp, so build up a few layers of Tenura grip strips to increase the handle's width, which is a helpful idea for those with arthritis or other conditions that limit dexterity or strength of grip.

 

Extensive research into the animal should be completed before being housed, as not all animals/breeds will be appropriate. It's very much dependent on the person's specific disability needs.

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Enjoy Halloween with the assistance of Tenura products! We want everyone to have a fantastic Halloween, which is why we have teamed up with MazeWebMedia to produce the latest Tenura video.

Watch the video, as it’s filled with exciting and innovative ways you can use Tenura products to make your Halloween accessible to all and avoid any weeping witches or sad skeletons during your festivities.

Tenura Bottle Opener

Enjoying classic autumnal drinks such as dandelion & burdock or pumpkin spiced lattes is easier when you can twist off the bottle cap with ease, all you need is a Tenura bottle opener. The silicone has grip-enhancing properties meaning less strength is required to open bottles.

 

Tenura Jar Opener

Twisting open jars full of treats or in this case, Nutella, is much easier if you use a grip-enhancing Tenura jar opener.

 

 

Tenura CupCaps (Drinks Cover)

Tenura CupCaps creates a seal around the top of your drinks container. The seal stops liquid from escaping, helping you to avoid spillages. Another great feature of Tenura’s drinks cover is it prevents debris from entering your drink, as you can see in our Halloween video.

 

Tenura Non-Slip Mats

When doing Halloween crafts such as carving a pumpkin or tucking into a Halloween themed feast, Tenura mats can be a great help. They protect your tables from marks, they’re easy to wipe down and are non-slip which keep objects securely in place, helping you avoid slips and spillages.

 

Tenura Cutlery Grips

Carving a pumpkin is a staple of Halloween, but for people who have hand impairments, it can be incredibly tricky and unpleasant. However, if you slip Tenura cutlery grips onto your cutlery/carving knife, they create a larger handle which increases comfort and grip.

 

Tenura Grip Rolls

You can cut Tenura grip roll down to size to create bespoke non-slip surfaces, for instance, in the video, we have wrapped Tenura grip roll around the handle of a butter knife. The user experiences increased grip qualities of the handle and therefore, has more control over the knife, making your Halloween activities safer for the disabled and elderly.

 

We hope you have found this blog helpful and that you can now celebrate Halloween regardless of age or disability. You can watch more Tenura videos via our YouTube channel.

You can tag us and show how you have put Tenura products to use this Halloween via social media (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram), we can’t wait to see your scary pumpkin carvings.

Charity Fun Runs are a great way to support a cause that you wish to donate. Prepare for the run to avoid injury and get friends involved; it provides a fantastic reason to start getting fit and into a healthy lifestyle. Train and raise money together to make the most out of your fun run. There are lots of types of charity runs out there. If you are extremely competitive and have an incredibly high fitness level, you may opt for a marathon. But if you want the more fun side of things, the Colour Run is a great place to start. If you don't mind getting covered in mud, there are lots of those around too.

Runs are a great way to get involved with a charity that means a lot to you. Many of us have been affected by cancer in one way or another. We can become a collective, run and donate for those who may be fighting the battle. Therefore, making the Race For Life run all that more special and a necessary time to reflect.

 

Rough Runner

Have you ever watched Total Wipeout, Ninja Warrior or Takeshi's Castle? Well, now it is your turn to tackle the only TV game show-inspired obstacle course. There are three levels of challenges, so there is something to suit your fitness level. There is a kid's zone so you can complete the course without worrying about your little one. Again, get sponsorships and donate to charities that mean something to you. There are six locations with a total of seventeen runs around the south of the UK there are various dates available from April 17^th to October 4^th. If you are interested, please look for a run suitable for you. I can't wait to see you tackle something similar to the Big Red Balls.

Website: https://­roughrunner.­com/

 

Tough Mudder

This fun run is more of a challenging obstacle course, packed with ice, ropes, walls and team-building exercises, leading to mud-caked mayhem. This run is team-orientated, so do not worry if you get stuck, your brilliant Tough Mudder companions will help you out. Seek sponsors to donate to a cause that is close to your heart. Fifteen runs are going on throughout the year from April 17^th till September 10^th, so if this sounds like the charity run for you, sign up!

Website (https://­toughmudder.­co.­uk/)

 

Cancer Research UK (Race For Life + more)

This charity hosts lots of runs throughout the year in which you can take part. From a 5K (3.1 miles) run to marathons (26.2 miles) and even ultramarathons, if you want to take on a bigger challenge. Many of us in the UK know somebody who has suffered from this disease and therefore, it is a really important cause. You can walk the marathon if preferred and you can always bring a friend for extra support and to help raise more money for this worthwhile cause. Your friends can even have four legs in some of their races, yes that's right, you can bring along your dog (Hosted in Stevenage 03/5/20 + more).

Website (https://­www.­cancer­rese­archuk.­org/­get-involved)

 

Parallel

The first-ever accessible fun run has been set up for all to participate but is inclusive for those persons who are disabled or have a lack of mobility. This charity fun run started back in 2015 and has been growing year on year. It’s held at Windsor Great Park. A partner to the organised race is Super Sensory 1km meaning your sense of taste, smell, hearing, touch, and sight will all go on this fun run too, I wonder what is in store for runners this year. There is also a Festival of Inclusivity to attend, full of zones in which you can eat, meet new people and try something new. The event has a wheelchair football court, family zones and more. Sign up and race on the 28/06/20.

Website (https://­www.­paral­lel­lif­es­tyle.­com/)

 

Trinity Hospice

Trinity Hospice Night Run is a local run near the Tenura head office and is in the heart of Blackpool, taking place under the famous Blackpool Illuminations. How fantastic is that! The charity run is in support of Brian House Children's Hospice and will be taking place on 02/09/20.

Website (https://­www.­trinityhospice.­co.­uk/­our-events/­detail/­night-run/)

 

The Colour Run

This charity fun run is also named "The happiest 5K on the planet". Now, if that doesn't make you get involved, then perhaps the lively atmosphere, a big release of endorphins and being covered in the paint might? The Colour Run has seen over 7 million people participate in over 40 countries. Their mission is to bring people together and make the world a happier, healthier place. You can get your friends, family, work colleagues and more to support you and help you to raise money and awareness for a cause close to your heart. There are 4 Colour Runs this year around the UK, so pick one and get involved.

05/09/20 Cardiff 12/09/20 Manchester 19/09/20 London 26/09/20 Leeds

Website (https://­thecolorrun.­co.­uk/)                                                      

 

Seen an event you would like to get involved in? You can sign up to any race via their website. There is a fee that helps towards the cost of the event and a portion of it is donated to charity if the fun run is similar to those held by Cancer Research UK.

If you get involved, please tag us in your social media posts about the event, so we can help celebrate your success. We can’t wait to see what you get up to and how much fun you’ve had!

We thought we would answer your FAQ’s to make sure you are fully informed to make the right decision regarding purchasing aids like Tenura’s range.

Who is Tenura?  

Tenura is a brand that manufacturers and sells products to help complete small daily tasks. Tenura products are designed with the disabled and elderly in mind but are perfect for anyone, especially those wanting to continue living independently.

What are your Opening Times?

Day	Opening Times	Closing Times
Monday to Thursday	08:30	17:30
Friday	08:30	17:00
Weekends	Closed	Closed

Please note, bank holidays and other public holidays may differ from the times above. For specific holiday dates, subscribe to our blog and be the first to know.

What makes Tenura’s Living Aids the best on the market?

The products are made from silicone and are Non-Toxic. These qualities make them great for any food preparation areas like kitchens. When using our Tenura anti-slip mats, the kitchen can be kept more hygienic due to the easy to wipe down the surface of silicone and its antimicrobial properties. It is an essential feature of our products as they are targeted towards children, the disabled, and the elderly who are more vulnerable and less immune to diseases. So, keeping a tidy, clean kitchen is paramount to their health. Another great use of the anti-slip mats includes placing them under chopping boards to avoid unwanted movement, and our anti-slip coasters keep your drink from being knocked over due to the silicones' grippy surface.

We also have been in the industry for over 20 years, so we know our stuff!

Are Tenura products suitable for me?

If you have difficulty grasping items due to a condition such as arthritis, then Tenura products can be incredibly useful in your daily life. We have things that can help you at home, your office or when out and about. You can explore the Tenura range on our website.

Our products are the best on the market and have unrivalled quality and benefits. For example, our products are microwave and dishwasher safe, but sadly our competitors can’t say the same.

Tenura products boast the following properties:

• Non-toxic
• 100% silicone
• Antimicrobial
• We don’t use cost-saving chemicals

What are Tenura’s Daily Living Aids made from, and why?

Tenura’s Daily Living Aid range is 100% silicone, which means that the products are non-toxic (as chemically inert), washable and dishwasher safe. Due to the gripping properties of the silicone, you are less likely to cause spillages or harm to yourself when using these products in conjunction with chopping boards or as a coaster as items placed on the anti-slip mat/coaster will move less compared to an ordinary counterpart.

The anti-slip mats help prevent injury especially if you chose a suitable colour to indicate a message. Many of our customers choose red mats to highlight that the area could be hot and may require extra attention. Our yellow mats tend to be used in conjunction with the message that the products placed on the mats are general items a person doesn’t want to lose. Such things could include glasses or hearing aids. These non-slip mats are also the most visible in low light areas. Finally, the blue silicone products lend themselves to bedrooms and living rooms. The colour blue is calming and helps to provide contrast to lighter surfaces like wooden furniture or white tiles. If you like to know more about this, you can read our Highlight Objects & Hazards with Tenura Daily Living Aids blog.

Other great features of our silicone living aids is there very high-temperature threshold of 250°C and the fact they are very difficult to rip/tear. Again, this makes them perfect for the kitchen but also hotter work environments such as working with cars and hot power tools. By placing hot power tools on a red anti-slip mat, it indicates a warning to others that those tools may be hot. It also protects the surface on which the mat has been placed and stops the power tools being knocked over or moved as easily. Use the anti-slip mats in combination with our anti-slip grip strips on your work tools to allow you to complete a task without as much strain on joints. If you are feeling adventurous, you can also apply our Tenura grip strips in medical practices or offices or to door handles, crutches and more, as they are safe to use anywhere.

What makes Tenura’s Daily Living Aids Antimicrobial?

To make our silicone products antimicrobial, we add a small percentage mix of Silver Nitrate. Silver has been used in the medical industry for years and can be found in wound dressings, creams and as a coating on medical devices. The silver used in our silicone products is toxic to bacteria, along with some algae and fungi. However, it is not toxic to us. Making our products fantastic for uses in kitchens, medical practices and for vulnerable people who are prone to diseases. To learn more about this, you can read our blog on how Rubber Bath Toys Are A Haven For Bacteria. It is also worth noting that Tenura’s products do not feature toxic, cost-saving chemicals or substances, like phthalate plasticisers, that are banned or restricted in some parts of the EU and USA.

In accordance with article 58 of the BPR, this article has been treated with a biocidal product. Silver nitrate (CAS 7761-88-8) has been added to create antimicrobial properties.

Do you have any product demonstration videos that show how to use your products?

We have a plethora of videos, and they are on our YouTube channel, you can also view them on the Videos tab on the Tenura website.

Do you offer bespoke/­customisable Living Aids for resellers and distributors?

Yes, we do! If you are looking at becoming a reseller or distributor of Tenura Daily Living Aids, we have plenty to offer you. Firstly, we can print full-colour brochures. We can also provide you with a full Photo Download Suite for you to access our images to use within your marketing campaign, whether they are printed or digital, like a Daily Living Aid Catalogue.

We can also custom manufacture our Daily Living Aids to be in keeping with your companies branding. The packaging can also be branded to suit your criteria. We can match the colours of our products to any Pantone or RAL references. If you have limited storage at your facility, we can also offer a drop shipping service. If you are looking at becoming a reseller or distributor of Tenura Daily Living Aids, please contact us to request free samples of our products so you can see the high-quality living aids for yourselves.

Why do you show the price with and without VAT?

Certain people are exempt from paying VAT on some of our products. If you are chronically ill or disabled and the products are for personal use, you are tax exempt. Charities can also claim for VAT exemption if they make the Living Aids purchased available for use at disabled persons home or other domestic use.

If you are unsure if you are eligible for VAT exemption, see our webpage on VAT Exemption, consult Notice 701/7 VAT reliefs for disabled people or contact HM Revenue & Customs National Advice Service on 0845 010 9000 before signing the declaration. Also, please note that the non-slip fabric and the Tenura extreme mat, as well as our anti-slip shower stickers, are not eligible for VAT exemption.

Can I buy on behalf of someone else and still have the VAT deducted?

If you are buying for a person who is VAT exempt (find out if you are by reading “Why do you show the price with and without VAT?”), then you can purchase on behalf of that individual as long as you can provide the correct information that is required. You will need to fill out a VAT exemption form whilst registering for an account or during checkout. Once the form is submitted, all purchases from your account will VAT exempt. For more information on VAT Exemption, please visit our webpage on VAT Exemption.

What payment methods do you accept?

There are seven payment methods we accept they are as follows:

          

Please note that we accept both debit and credit cards for both Visa and Mastercard.

What is non-slip material and how does it work?

It’s complicated. Silicones are synthetic polymers (a long chain of repeated molecules). The bond between the Silicon and the Oxygen is stronger than the Carbon-Carbon bond. Meaning it has stable thermal stability (resistance to mixing), so they are great for environments that are hotter or the organic equivalent (Silicon) would decompose. The properties of the silicone can be changed by substituting organic chemical groups for other chemical groups (such as the methyl group) and cross-linking. This change is what can make silicone properties change. Properties that can be affected are the flexibility, water repellence, and its solubility (dissolvable). Some of these qualities directly correlate to coefficients of friction (levels of grip).

What are the dimensions of your Daily Living Aids?

Silicone Jar & Bottle Openers

Silicone Bottle Opener	6cm diameter
Silicone Jar Opener	12cm diameter

Anti-Slip Table & Floor Mats from Tenura

Silicone Anti-Slip Mats	Small: 25.5cm x 18.5cm Medium: 35.5cm x 25.5cm Large: 45.5 x 38.5cm, 1.5mm in thickness
Anti-Slip Children's Table Mats	30cm x 25cm, 1.5mm thickness
Silicone Anti-Slip Floor Mat	60cm x 45cm, 1.5mm thickness

Anti-Slip Coasters and Cup Holders

Silicone Circular Anti-Slip Coaster	Available in 14cm and 19cm diameter, 1.5mm thickness
Silicone Square Anti-Slip Coasters (Pack of 4)	9cm x 9cm,1.5mm material thickness
Silicone Anti-Slip Cup Holder	9cm diameter

Cutlery Grips

Anti-Slip Cutlery Grips (Pack of 2)	12.5cm cutlery grips, with widths of 37mm
Anti-Slip Children's Cutlery Grips (Pack of 2)	9.8cm cutlery grips, with widths of 17mm

CupCaps

CupCaps (Pack of 2)

6cm and 8cm diameter CupCaps

Grip Strips & Rolls

Anti-Slip Grip Strips	1m x 2cm, with a material thickness of 0.5mm
Anti-Slip Grip Roll	Available in sizes 1m x 2cm, 1m x 20cm, 1m x 30cm, 2m x 30cm, 2m x 40cm, 9m x 20cm, 9m x 40cm, with widths of 0.5mm
Self-Adhesive Anti-Slip Silicone Reel	1m x 20cm, with a width of 0.5mm

Extreme Grip Mats

Tenura Extreme Grip Mat

20cm x 20cm, a thickness of 3.5mm

Non-Slip Fabric

Non-Slip Fabric

50cm x 182cm, the fabric thickness is 2.66mm

Anti-Slip Bathroom Products

Aqua Safe Anti-Slip Bath and Shower Stickers

Available in rolls consisting of approx 30 strips (200mm x 20mm) or 72 circles (40mm)

Can I leave a product review?

We would love to hear your feedback. There are two ways you can leave us a review, firstly for specific product-related ones you can choose to leave a review on the Tenura website, to do this you need to navigate to the product page you are reviewing and click the “reviews” tab. Enter in your data then click “Send”.

Alternatively, you can submit a review via reviews.io. A prompt to do so will arrive in your email inbox a few days after you’ve made a purchase.

I have an idea for a new product, how can I submit my idea to Tenura?

It’s fantastic when great minds get together, so please share your ideas with us. The best way to do this is to tag us in a social post on any of the platforms we use. We would be exceptionally impressed by any prototypes you’ve produced and will share the inspiration with the world, you never know, it may become a part of the Tenura range.

Where can I find more information regarding Tenura and their products?

You can find out more information by visiting our blogs page, which is packed full of helpful content on our products, services, upcoming events, and more. By subscribing to Tenura’s newsletter, you will receive the latest news and exclusive deals. We are also offering subscribers a 10% discount off their next purchase.

How do I contact Tenura?

You can get in touch in a few ways, for instance, call us (on +441254 832266), use the contact us form, or connect with us via our socials (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn).