Page 16 - Real Rochdale - Autumn 2018

Shopmobility

celebrating 25 years

10 September 2018 will mark 25 years since “They also use the scooters for leisure, shopping,
Rochdale Shopmobility opened its doors and began visiting the bank, meeting friends for a cup of tea,
to provide an invaluable service to its members in for lunch or to visit Rochdale’s Touchstones.”
the town centre.
Rochdale Shopmobility provides members with
Opening in September 1993 Shopmobility manual and electric powered wheelchairs, powered
became a registered charity in June 1995, scooters and offers the help of volunteers to escort
supplying members with mobility scooters and people with sensory disabilities. Members can use
wheelchairs to the facilities for up to
access the town three hours per day
centre’s facilities at the cost of £10 per
with ease and year for membership.
enjoyment.
The organisation
The organisation vacated its previous
receives funding site in the old bus
from charitable station, so Rochdale
grant providers, Borough Council and
from fees paid by Rochdale
its members and Development Agency
from fund-raising could press ahead
activities that are with the regeneration
organised within of the town centre.
the borough;
helping to keep The charity moved to
Rochdale a temporary site on
Shopmobility Baillie Street whilst
viable in provid- work on new
ing a service to its premises took place,
members day in, before officially
day out. moving into its

permanent base on River Street in July 2015.
Current manager, Michelle Hollinrake, started in
June 2002. She said: “We have up to one The new premises form part of a transport
hundred members making around 2,000 trips in interchange with Rochdale bus station, the
the town centre per year. Metrolink stop and the River Street taxi rank all

close by. A cycle hub, where people can safely stow
“Our services are for anybody with mobility prob- their bikes, can also be found next to the
lems, not just necessarily those who are registered Shopmobility premises.
disabled.
The new building on River Street is part of the
“Members using our scooters have gained £250m regeneration of Rochdale Town Centre and
confidence before purchasing one of their own or has been purpose built for the charity.
before hiring one on holiday.

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