Havering campaigner to propose new scheme for disabled passengers using trains

Michael Lloyd (centre) alongside Caroline Pidgeon (left) and Julia Lopez, MP for Hornchurch and Upminster (right) at a previous campaign

A disability campaigner from Havering will be speaking to politicians in London to advocate a new scheme to help disabled passengers on the capital’s transport network.

Michael Lloyd will be promoting the concept, known as the “Sunflower Lanyard Scheme”, at City Hall, on Wednesday, 8 January to the London Assembly Transport Committee.

The idea would see sunflower lanyards given to adults and children to wear on trains, with the use of the flowers acting as a discrete way of showing a passenger has a hidden disability.

The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower was first launched at Gatwick Airport in May 2016, as a subtle but visible sign, enabling airport staff to recognise that the wearer (or someone with them) may require some extra assistance when moving through the airport.

It is now in place across the UK’s main airports, several other train services, supermarkets, and is being introduced into the NHS.

More than one million lanyards have already been handed out to businesses and the general public. 

If the idea is favoured by the Transport Committee, the next step would be for them to forward the concept to the Mayor of London for his support.

The lanyard is bright green with sunflowers on but there are also badges, ribbons, bangles and t-shirts with the same logo.

Mr Lloyd said: “Sometimes someone may have dementia, autism or a hearing impediment. There’s loads of variations but the idea is when people go to the airports, as soon as the staff see, they are fully aware they need to give that person or anyone with them, more time so it breaks down any barriers.”

The campaigner first heard of the scheme in June after speaking with individuals from the London City Airport at an accessible transport event.

He said: “I’d never heard of it before. I was so impressed by it. I thought this could and should be spread out across our TfL network.

“At the moment, TfL do have a system in. They have a badge that says ‘please offer me a seat.’ Overwhelmingly, most people feel uncomfortable because you’re labelling them that they have a disability.

“Although it’s a great idea, and it does help people that need to have a seat, it’s more focused on a person that can’t stand for any length of time. This is more about communication because when we all travel, our first thing is communication.”

Mr Lloyd has arranged various campaigns for the disabled, including a previous event held in Romford, that focused on accessibility to public transport across Greater London.