Parallel launches Purple Sock Day to support overlooked D/deaf and disabled entrepreneurs in the UK
To mark the annual International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) on 03 December 2021, social enterprise Parallel Lifestyle has teamed up with the pioneering sustainable activewear brand, BAM, and the UK's leading enterprise support charity, Hatch Enterprise. The aim is to encourage businesses and the public to buy and wear a pair of Parallel’s Purple Socks to shine a much-needed light on the challenges faced by D/deaf and disabled entrepreneurs in the UK and to help them thrive.
IDPD was created by the UN to promote the rights and well-being of disabled people across society and raise awareness of disability in every aspect of political, social, economic, and cultural life.
Making the world of work more inclusive and accessible are constant barriers to employment opportunities for D/deaf and disabled people in the UK; recently highlighted by the government’s new National Disability Strategy. People living with disabilities often turn to self-employment and entrepreneurship to create their own opportunities, with the UK employment rate being around 30% lower amongst disabled individuals versus non disabled.
Support for D/deaf and disabled entrepreneurs is also under-served, holding back the vast potential of this rich seam of talent and the benefits it can bring to society and the UK economy. Half (50%) of disabled business owners cited lack of finance or capital as a barrier to innovating.
Using this year’s IDPD as a platform, the inaugural Purple Sock Day will engage businesses and the public to take part in a simple and effortless act of wearing Parallel designed purple socks by BAM, which will retail at just £5. Your can order your Purple Sock Day socks here; HERE
The aim is to raise greater awareness of disability inclusion and D/deaf and disabled founders, with half of the Purple Sock Day profits going towards a new fund that will be used to provide grants to founders, professional advice, mentoring, networking opportunities and tailored business support across a range of disabilities. Hatch Enterprise will oversee the fund; implementing the framework, governance, and expertise to support budding D/deaf and disabled entrepreneurs. The other half of Purple Sock Day profits will be reinvested into growing it into an annual campaign and other Parallel social enterprise projects.
Andrew Douglass, Founder of Parallel said: ‘Part of our social mission at Parallel is to combine innovative thinking with action to achieve greater disability inclusion across society. Purple Sock Day will help deliver a sustainable and long-term solution to better support the potential of our D/deaf and disabled business talent; whilst also creating something fun which everyone of all abilities can take part in together. I hope everyone will wear a pair and show they care.’
David Gordon, Founder at BAM said: ‘At BAM, we celebrate being the best you can be regardless of age and ability. We’re delighted to support Parallel in raising awareness of disability inclusion by making these unbelievably soft performance socks for Purple Sock Day. BAM was founded on innovation, both with our materials and ensuring we tread as lightly as possible on the planet, so we understand the importance of nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurs. We hope that as much money as possible can be raised for this important new fund.’
Dirk Bischof, Chief Executive of Hatch Enterprise, said: ‘We know underrepresented founders in the UK face so many additional barriers, and it’s becoming increasingly clear to us that so much more can be done to support D/deaf and disabled entrepreneurs in the UK to start and grow their businesses and bring new inventions to market. We are excited about the first Purple Sock Day and our role in making sure the funds raised become the platform of support that D/deaf and disabled entrepreneurs need.’
Get your socks in time for Purple Sock Day here; HERE
Parallel is a social enterprise which supports the D/deaf and disabled community to live life to the full in mainstream society. Parallel also organises the award-winning Parallel Windsor, a national celebration of disability inclusion.
BAM is an online brand, designing and manufacturing high performing bamboo activewear. The company was founded by David Gordon in 2006 who wanted to prove a sustainable business could be commercially viable. Leading gold standard sustainability across the fashion industry, the company has announced an ambitious goal: to be impact positive by 2030.
Hatch supports underrepresented entrepreneurs from across the UK to imagine, launch and grow businesses that are sustainable, successful and have a positive and lasting impact on their communities. Hatch is committed to building a fairer society by helping develop entrepreneurs’ skills, knowledge and confidence through unique programmes designed by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs. Since 2014, the charity has supported more than 5000 entrepreneurs to flourish, building a vibrant network of partners, funders and investors who share Hatch’s vision in the process. For the past three years, Hatch Enterprise has either been a finalist or been featured as one of the Top 100 social enterprises in the annual NatWest SE100 Index.