Mobility charity closing service over winter

Volunteer Michael Stenning and staff member Emily Keller say closing over winter will impact people's lives

"This organisation has been the heart of me being able to getting out and doing things, otherwise I'd be stuck in the house depressed," said Kimberley Roberts, a mobility scooter user who uses Possability People's service.

The charity is closing its Shopmobility store in Churchill Square, Brighton, over the winter due to a lack of funding and rising costs.

It provides affordable mobility scooters that people can rent around the city, but will now only operate during spring and summer.

Brighton & Hove City Council (BHCC) cut its £26,100 annual funding to the charity in April last year and said it needed to make "tough decisions" due to financial challenges.

Kimberley Roberts said the charity had helped her stay independent while she was waiting for an NHS mobility scooter

Ms Roberts, who suffered a spinal injury last year, said: "The council need to step up and do something about it, or other organisations should come together and help this charity so they can help others.

"They're an amazing organisation and do such amazing things."

Scooter hire costs £5 for a day or £10 overnight. The other Shopmobility schemes are in Chichester and Eastbourne.

Emily Keller, people and operations manager for the charity, said: "Since we lost our council funding, we've been propping up Shopmobility with funds from the charity.

"Unfortunately, our costs have risen and we haven't had a raise in funding so sadly we have to close the service over winter."

The service will be closed from 1 November until 2 April next year.

Ms Keller added: "We're always up against it in terms of funding, we know it will have a real impact on people's lives.

"It's not just being able to get out and about, it's supporting people's mental health visiting friends.

"We understand the council has also had to make difficult decisions. We're an inclusive city so it seems a really odd decision to not fund the Shopmobility service.

"We would urge the council to look at their decision again."

'Challenging financial situation'

Councillor Mitchie Alexander, cabinet member for communities, equalities, public health and adult social care at the city council, said BHCC was "committed to supporting all our residents and making sure our city is accessible and welcoming".

"Unfortunately, the challenging financial situation this and many other councils have found themselves in in recent years has led to tough decisions needing to be made," said Ms Alexander.

"That decision was no reflection on the excellent work being done by Shopmobility – and we will always be happy to discuss ways the council can support our excellent third sector – but we do absolutely understand the impact the loss of available grant funding has had."