Shopmobility South Gloucestershire held a celebration event recently to mark a vital anniversary.
The first meeting to try to set up a local Shopmobility scheme was called 20 years ago by the late Keith Holloway and held in the Dodington Parish Council offices.The scheme started operations in 2006. It remains for people who need a wheelchair or scooter, even just for a short period or to take on holiday, or perhaps to go shopping, visit friends or go on a trip.
Shopmobility South Gloucestershire is based in Yate Library, which is inside Yate Shopping Centre, and the service provides mobility scooter and wheelchair hire on a daily or on a longer term basis to help people who have limited mobility. This supports people with retaining their independence and means they are able to use the facilities of the centre and to access other services. Shopmobility helps users from all over South Gloucestershire and beyond.
Shopmobility’s opening hours are Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, from 9.30am to 4pm. There is free daily hire if you have a Concessionary Bus Pass.
Shopmobility vice chairman David Bell, who attended the first meeting in 2003, said: “I am so pleased that the Shopmobility scheme is still going after 20 years, and has made such a great positive difference to so many people’s lives.”
Sheridan Crew, the Shopmobility project manager, said: ‘’This is a vital service and valued community asset. As a small not-for-profit charity, it is essential that we continue to receive the support from the wider community in terms of grants and volunteers to maintain the service for years to come.’’
Shopmobility South Gloucestershire is also looking for more volunteers to help operate and promote the service. There are opportunities to help the organisation to deliver the service, especially if it is to expand its operations, and there are opportunities to deliver its promotion strategy to help the service reach and help more users. Please contact the scheme on the email or phone number below if you are interested in volunteering for Shopmobility.
If you want to pre-book a scooter or wheelchair, or check on opening hours, please call in to see the team at Yate Library, or contact the scheme on 07999574474, or shopmobilitysouthglos@yahoo.com