Award-winning adaptive designer, disability advocate, speaker and writer Victoria Jenkins is spearheading a campaign to show support for disabled entrepreneurs – by wearing a pair of purple socks!
The 38-year-old founder of the award-winning adaptable clothing brand Unhidden is backing this year’s Purple Sock Day on December 3 to mark International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
She was one of the first to slip on the special edition sustainable bamboo socks, manufactured by BAM, that went on sale this week at https://bambooclothing.co.uk/purple-sock-day/.
Victoria, recognised by Vogue in their 25 most influential Powerhouse Women and named second most influential disabled person in the UK by the Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 List, is encouraging everyone to raise awareness and money by ‘buying, wearing and sharing’ in support of national Purple Sock Day.
Organised by the social enterprise Parallel Lifestyle, 40% of the profits from #PurpleSockDay will be donated to the British Association for Supported Employment (BASE) to help fund support for disabled entrepreneurs.
The remaining profits will be used to support other entrepreneurship ventures in the UK and re-invested into growing Purple Sock Day and Parallel Windsor, a national celebration of disability inclusion and wellbeing.
Disabled entrepreneurs currently account for an estimated 25% of the nation’s 5.5 million small businesses but represent only 8.6% of total small business turnover. Small Business Britain estimates suggest that creating equal opportunities could unlock an additional £230 billion for the UK economy.
“There are significant challenges faced by disabled entrepreneurs in the UK, identifying inaccessible support services, poor access to finance, and the “burden of proof of disability” are key issues that need addressing,” said Victoria, a co-chair of the influential Lilac Review, an independent review on tackling the inequality faced by disabled founders and aiming to level-up entrepreneurial opportunity across the UK.
“We want to be given equal access to opportunities, so we are free to be entrepreneurs and to grow our business to the best of our ambition and abilities.”
Victoria, who became disabled in her mid-20s after an undiagnosed ulcer burst, has a variety of gastrointestinal and musculoskeletal conditions and symptoms from surgeries and complications of her conditions, wants every sock wearing person to help budding entrepreneurs start their businesses by supporting Purple Sock Day.
“All we’re asking you is to buy and wear a pair of soft, sustainable bamboo socks manufactured by BAM and share by tagging #PurpleSockDay and you will help to raise positive awareness for disability inclusion,” said Victoria.
“Sustainable style with social impact – what’s not to love. It’s a fun initiative with a serious message that you, your family, friends and work colleagues can get behind by pulling on a pair of purple socks.”
For further information visit https://www.parallellifestyle.com/purple-sock-day or https://bambooclothing.co.uk/purple-sock-day
