Standing Up 4 Sitting Down

Standing Up 4 Sitting Down (#su4sd) is a national initiative aiming to improve people's access to seating in public areas should they need it.

Poor public transport etiquette increasing risk of isolation

Research commissioned as part of the ‘Standing Up 4 Sitting Down’ campaign reveals that passengers on public transport are more likely to look down at their phone or tablet than look up to see if someone might need a seat (42%).

One in five older people worry so much over a lack of seating, they are less likely to use public transport. 
With more than three million older people relying on public transport for shopping, socialising and leisure, turning them away from this vital service with hostile attitudes puts them at a greater risk of isolation. 

Standing Up 4 Sitting Down is a campaign focused on increasing seating for those who need it, and tackling the important and avoidable issue of transport etiquette by encouraging passengers to look up and consider the needs of others.

Improving access to local shops

All too often we hear of people struggling to access their local shops and leisure facilities because of a lack of seating areas to rest in. At Anchor, we want to see older people enjoy their lives to the fullest.

For this reason, Standing Up 4 Sitting Down is calling on retailers and high streets to do their bit to improve the lives of people by providing adequate seating in stores and public spaces.

There are now over 2000 retail outlets across the country, including Sainsbury's, Morrisons, Virgin Money, Yorkshire Building Society, Argos and Hotter, supporting the campaign, pledging to maintain the number of seats people can use if they want to rest mid-shop.

Why Nona is Standing Up 4 Sitting Down

The Anchor Seating Calculator

We’ve devised a unique formula to calculate the minimum number of seats that retailers in different towns should provide. Use the Anchor Seating Calculator to find a town or city and see how many seats the high street needs to become accessible to older shoppers.

Why Margaret and Clive are Standing Up 4 Sitting Down

Together we can encourage more passengers to consider the needs of others

• Transport providers - sign up for  #su4sd and help raise encourage your passengers to consider the needs of others when travelling. Sign up here.
• Members of the public - encourage your local transport providers to use posters, stickers and announcements that encourage passengers to consider the needs of others when travelling. Get involved here.

Together we can increase seating on the high street

• Shops and retailers - sign up for #su4sd and we’ll send you your free window stickers. Sign up here.
• Members of the public, MPs and all supporters - encourage your local shops and retailers to sign up for Standing Up 4 Sitting Down. Get involved here.

These simple changes will benefit everyone. With more seating and resting areas on offer for those who need them, including older people, visiting local shops need not be such a struggle. With more consideration on public transport the journey to these facilities will become easier for these groups. Shopping gives people, particularly those living alone, important social contact, reducing loneliness. It also offers more opportunities for physical exercise enjoying the outdoors and meeting up with friends.

For shops and retail spaces, welcoming more people increases footfall and ultimately the opportunity for profit – it’s a win win situation.

To make change happen we will be encouraging shops and retailers to ‘Stand Up 4 Sitting Down’ and pledge to maintain and increase the seating available to those who need it. 

For more information on how to get involved and show your support for Standing Up 4 Sitting Down please email us [email protected], call 0800 731 2020 and watch out for our hashtag - #su4sd.