Chelmsford’s ShopMobility service brings independence to over 750 users
Over the last year, Chelmsford City Council’s ShopMobility scheme has enabled its 773 subscribers to make almost 3,700 individual visits to the city centre, by providing electric scooters to people with restricted mobility.
ShopMobility is a free service, run by dedicated staff, that hires mobility scooters, electric wheelchairs and manual wheelchairs to members of the public to enable them to get outdoors independently.
Improving wellbeing and reducing isolation
ShopMobility UK is a nationwide network of centres that hire out mobility equipment to the public, so that people with restricted mobility can enjoy independence outdoors. The service is available to anyone with mobility issues over the age of 16, to help with access to shops and leisure facilities. In Chelmsford, the service is fully funded by the city council, making it free of charge to users.
ShopMobility is not only for elderly individuals or people with chronic disabilities, it also provides support to those restricted by temporary illness or injury. The aim of the scheme is to improve wellbeing and reduce isolation across the UK.
Councillor Donna Eley says the service is invaluable to its users:
““ShopMobility is a wonderful service and one that Chelmsford City Council is proud to offer, free of charge, to residents and visitors. Personal independence is so important for our physical and mental wellbeing, and not being able to pop to the shops, meet friends, or just be among your local community can be very isolating. It’s important that our city is accessible to all and ShopMobility facilitates that.”
Cllr Donna Eley, Cabinet Member for a Safer Chelmsford
All ShopMobility centres follow an accreditation process resulting in a star rating from 1-5, with 5 being the highest – Chelmsford ShopMobility is rated 5 stars.
How Chelmsford ShopMobility works
Chelmsford’s ShopMobility centre is open 7 days a week and provides scooters, electric wheelchairs and manual wheelchairs. To use the service, you’ll need to complete a simple online registration form and await your permit, which will be sent by post within ten days of registration. You do not need to be a Chelmsford resident to use this service, so if you have a friend or relative visiting who could benefit, why not get them set up?
Once you have your permit, you can head over to the ShopMobility centre on Market Road and friendly staff will help you get started!
Scooters at the ShopMobility centre on Market Road
Meet the ShopMobility team
Chelmsford City Council’s ShopMobility service is run by dedicated staff, based at the public conveniences building on Market Road in the city centre, where you can also find Changing Places facilities. The team is headed up by Public Conveniences & Shopmobility Supervisor, Ainsley Herd, along with four attendants, Lisa, Janvi, Siliva and Vanuza.
Ainsley says the team love seeing people enjoying their freedom thanks to the service:
““We all just love seeing our users being able to get out and about, enjoying their freedom and asserting their independence. It makes so much difference to them to be able to spend time outside and around people without tiring themselves out.
Ainsley Herd, Public Conveniences & Shopmobility Supervisor, Chelmsford City Council
“It’s important to us that as many people know about the service as possible, so that we can help as many people as possible! If you’re reading this and know of someone who could use the service, please let them know we are here – 7 days a week – and would love to meet them.”
What do ShopMobility users think?
Most of the 773 permit holders are regular users. One of those regular users recently contacted ShopMobility HQ to let them know how much the Chelmsford service has impacted his life, which lead to the team being recognised in ShopMobility’s national newsletter! Kris’ words were so lovely that we wanted to share them with CityLife readers too:
““I consider myself a fortunate sixty-something gentleman. With my disabilities and ongoing health issue I have managed to maintain both my independence and mobility. It has not always been easy and I have previously found myself socially isolated. Since being housed in Chelmsford however things are 100% better due to the Shopmobility [service]. This facility has been a Godsend and has impacted me tremendously.
Kris Rose, regular ShopMobility user
“After days/weeks/months isolated I now feel complete again. After a sample ride and filling in my details I was free! Everything was now accessible to me. Although the scheme has given me back my ability to come into town and feel part of the community it is all the staff that work within ShopMobility that make the experience complete. They are not just employees, they are compassionate fantastic individuals that have time to listen, advise and help when needed. The service they offer is exceptional.”
It’s not just Kris who has words of praise for the team – Chelmsford City Council’s Markets, Shopmobility & Promotional Spaces Manager, Pauline Rider, regularly receives emails about their great work and hears directly from customers how wonderful the team is.
Another regular customer, Rosa, wrote to Pauline with a testimonial for the service:
“"Thank you for the Chelmsford Shopmobility scheme – it is an excellent initiative which is accessible to all and free of charge! Thanks to this wonderful service, I am able to be independent, get out of the house, go shopping, get to the library, the market and use all the facilities available in the city, sometimes on a daily basis.
"The ladies provide a service that is second to none, they are always very obliging and, more often than not, I get my favourite scooter which is fantastic and makes everything easier. They have a wide selection of mobility equipment and always try and accommodate everyone's needs and wishes with a cheerful disposition and good humour. My father also uses the service, not as often as I do, but neither of us would have this independence were it not for this brilliant initiative - it really is a Godsend!"
Mrs Page travels into Chelmsford to shop because of the service:
““[Shop Mobility is] fantastic, well run and efficient. I live [over 20 miles away] and shop in Chelmsford because of the service. There is one local to me, but it’s expensive and poorly run. In Chelmsford, they operate on Sundays and from first thing in the morning, not just over busy lunch periods, and the staff are so welcoming, smiling and always happy to help.”
Chelmsford ShopMobility centre on Market Road
More information
Chelmsford’s ShopMobility centre is on Market Road, in the same building as the public toilets and Changing Places. There are five parking spaces for Blue Badge holders and one for Changing Places users, which you can access from Threadneedle Street.
The centre is open from 8.15am to 4.30pm Monday to Saturday and 10.15am to 3.30pm on Sundays and bank holidays. Mobility equipment is available to be hired for three hours at a time, to ensure that as many people as possible can use the service.
If you have any questions, please call 01245 605716 between 8am an 4pm, Tuesday to Saturday, or visit https://www.chelmsford.gov.uk/parking-and-travel/shopmobility/.
Molly writes stories about public health, community safety, leisure, community sport, parking and Chelmsford Market.