A Warrington campaign founded by a local teenager has partnered with Tesco’s Winwick Road store to help make shopping more accessible for people with sensory and communication needs.
Inclusion Starts With Us, a family-led initiative founded by 15-year-old Nathan-Jack, has launched a new collaboration with Tesco on Winwick Road, introducing Sensory Borrow Bags for customers who may experience sensory overwhelm while shopping.
Nathan-Jack, who has autism and selective mutism, inspired the campaign through his own lived experience, alongside that of his siblings. The initiative aims to make everyday environments calmer, safer and more inclusive for children, young people and adults with sensory needs.
The new Sensory Borrow Bags are available to borrow free of charge from the customer service desk and contain a range of practical items designed to reduce anxiety and support communication during shopping trips.
Each bag includes:
Ear defenders
Sunglasses
A squishy ball
Pull tube
Emotions keyring
Five-point feelings scale
3D-printed fidget clicker
Visual self-checkout support guide
The items have been carefully selected to help reduce noise and visual overload, encourage emotional regulation and make the shopping experience more manageable for customers with sensory sensitivities.
The partnership was launched following a meeting between the Inclusion Starts With Us team and Tesco Community Team member Sharon, who welcomed the initiative and supported the introduction of the bags at the Winwick Road store.
The organisation is encouraging shoppers who use the bags to provide feedback so they can continue developing the contents to meet the needs of the local community.
The collaboration is the latest step in Inclusion Starts With Us’ mission to create more understanding and accessible public spaces across Warrington, helping ensure that everyone can shop with greater confidence and comfort.
