Volunteers are coming together to try to launch a Shopmobility
scheme in Felixstowe, so that people with limited mobility can
borrow manual or powered wheelchairs or scooters to make their way
around the local shops and services.
Suffolk Coastal's Change Maker, Alison Jordan, has been offering
help to the group who want to bring in the scheme which has proved
popular in other parts of the country.
“Shopmobility is for anyone, young or old, whether their
disability is temporary or permanent, just anyone who needs help
with their mobility. It gives them the freedom to get around. I
have started calling together interested volunteers and others in
Felixstowe to see if we can get a scheme operating in our town and
would like to hear from anyone who has time, money or equipment to
help us turn it into reality,” said Keith Billingham, who ran a
scheme in Romford in east London that had over 4,000 members and
provided hundreds of equipment loans every week.
“We have an increasing number of people who have mobility
problems and it is not unusual these days to see someone going
round the shops in an electric scooter. But not everyone has access
to a wheelchair or scooter, or can easily get it to Felixstowe to
get around the shops.
“Our goal is offer a mobile unit to give us the flexibility to
offer people a wheelchair or scooter to give them the freedom to
make their way around the shops, or the other attractions of the
town. It would make a big difference to an important section of our
local community and would really open up Felixstowe to more people
to come and enjoy what it has to offer. If enough people come
forward to help us, we could launch a Shopmobility scheme in
Felixstowe in 2012,” added Mr Billingham.
At this stage, the aim is to attract volunteers to join a steering
group or to become a trustee with the aim of gaining Charity
Registration and placing an application for National Lottery
funding. It would also be helpful if people that would use the
scheme could register their interest so the group can show the
evidence of the need for this new service.
Anyone who can help with either a donation of time, money or
equipment, or who would like more information can contact Mr
Billingham on 07792 720134 or can email
kbip11@ntlworld.com.
Similar schemes already operate in Ipswich, Bury St Edmunds,
Lowestoft and Stowmarket, all as part of the National Federation of
Shopmobility UK, a registered charity which encourages the
development of new schemes.
Alison Jordan has been assisting Keith Billingham in his efforts
and she is the campaign coordinator of Change Makers which provides
support and guidance to local people who want to make a difference
in their community, helping people turn their big idea into reality
and so provide something new that could really add a special little
extra to the local quality of life.
“The Change Makers initiative is funded by the Suffolk Coastal
Local Strategic Partnership and is specifically targeted at those
who want to start something new, or make something better or just
put it right. It could include setting up a club or group, or
organising an activity, learning or teaching new skills, or just
generally helping people in the local community,” said Dr Wil
Gibson, Board Member of the Suffolk Coastal Local Strategic
Partnership (SCLSP).
Alison Jordan can be contacted on 01473 273273 or 07531 852 112,
or by emailing
Alison.jordan@savo.co.uk
or by writing to her at SAVO, Dickson House, 43a Woodbridge Road
East, Ipswich IP4 5QN. Alison is funded by the SCLSP and supported
by the Suffolk Coastal Resource Network, another SCLSP backed
project.
Press release issued on behalf of the
Suffolk Coastal Local Strategic
Partnership