From a small, unremarkable building in the middle of a car park in Altrincham, a group of big-hearted people are undertaking work which can be life-changing.
If you’re young and able-bodied, you may take for granted your ability to go into town and wander around the shops whenever you feel like it. For some people in our community who are older or disabled, a trip to town may be too difficult to contemplate. That’s where Trafford Shopmobility comes in. Manned by volunteers, it provides electric scooters, for a small charge, to people who would otherwise be unable to walk around. Don’t be fooled by the name, they’re not a council service or in receipt of Council money. They’re manned by volunteers and dependent on membership and donations. Although they’re well sited on Regent Road Car Park, the building is not very obvious; they’re trying to get planning permission to have larger signs erected to make the service more prominent. I would encourage older people who aren’t too good on their pins to pay the small membership charge and join up. For people who would otherwise be housebound, Shopmobility makes Altrincham’s shops accessible and the businesses benefit from their custom. If you’ve got time to give, you could become a volunteer. If you’re a charitable individual or a business keen to make a contribution to the community, Trafford Shopmobility would be an excellent place to start. If you have a friend or relative who finds it hard to get out, why not take them down to have a look?