Bracknell mobility charity could fold if no funding is found

Shopmobility is based in the Princess Square shopping centre in the town centre. It helps people by providing wheelchairs and scooters for hire, on a long term or temporary basis.

But its future could be in doubt as leading volunteers at the charity give it just over 18 months to survive unless they get more support.

Problems for the charity started when financial help from Bracknell Forest Council was cut to nothing in March 2021.

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It previously received £32,800 from the council in 2015/16, and just over £29,000 in 2016/17 and 2017/18, but this was reduced to £19,650 in 2018/19. It was then cut to around £10,000 for the past two years, until the complete cessation of support this year.

Prior to the pandemic, Shopmobility conducted 3,000 hires a year, and had 110 members. But membership has dropped to under 70 people, leaving the charity even more strapped for cash.

Colin Wilcox, acting chairman of Shopmobility, said the council cut funding due to the ability to get other grants, and the potential of an increased footfall as The Lexicon is finished plus increased fundraising opportunities. Shopmobility also had reserves built up when the decision was made.

Mr Wilcox has argued that these reasons were based on ‘conjecture’ and that hasn’t stood the test of time. He added the charity is unwilling to raise its prices, as increases would price beneficiaries out of the service.

Shopmobility charges £4 for day vehicle hires, and £30 for membership.

Mr Wilcox said:  “It’s very important we keep it at a subsidised level. If it’s not subsidised, the service would cost hundreds a year. It’s fundamental our costs remain at a subsidised and affordable level.

“We can’t have finances as a barrier to people using the service.”

The wheelchairs and scooters that Shopmobility provides for hire. The charity has to cover maintenance costs of the vehicles it hires to people. Credit: James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter

Charlie Drury, one of the volunteers, uses a walking stick but found using the wheelchairs easier to get about.

He said: “A lot of our members become volunteers. When I started not so long ago, I was using a wheelchair, and luckily I didn’t need it anymore, and I was wishing to give something back.”

Although Shopmobility has applied for grant funding, often the amounts applied for do not serve running costs. The group has applied to National Lottery, the Heritage Fund, and the Postcode Lottery but is yet to be successful.

At the moment, the charity is doing what it can to fundraise, selling donated items such as CDs, DVDs, glassware, and hosting car boot sales. It also holds bingo on a Friday, and is seeking to host lunches in the shop when its safe to do so.

Mr Wilcox said: “Every little helps, as we always say, we do everything we can.”

The shop also has a cafe, where guests can enjoy tea, coffee, biscuits, juice and squash, all for under £1.

The prices at the Shopmobility café, with all items under £1. Credit: James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter

Shopmobility has a lease for the shop until 2026, but according to the volunteers they could be gone well before that.

But the charity is not devoid of bouts of kindness from members of the public.

Mr Drury said: “One chap is so keen about coming to have his coffee and chatting to people, he recently donated £458, he’d been saving up coins and £5 notes, and he gave it to us purely because he wants to keep us open, so he can have his cup of coffee and cake, which is amazing.”

The volunteers see three ways to save the charity: significant grant funding, financial assistance from the council restored, or increased generosity from the public.

Mr Wilcox said: “The idea of becoming self-funding is not a bad idea per se, but it’s the fact there is a very strong likelihood that we won’t be able to do so, and I wouldn’t see that as a failure on our part. We’re making every effort to do so, and it’s just so difficult.”

Mr Drury said: “Even if they [the council] stepped while we get to that critical stage, at the moment we are going to go down, there’s no ifs or buts about it. The future is very, very bleak.

“If Bracknell Forest Council could help us until we can become self funding, even if its less than they gave us before, that would give us a little bit of security to keep going.”

In closing Mr Wilcox stressed that the charity “was not closing now” and expressed hope that it could be saved. He said: “We’re not a lost cause. But we need all the support they can give.  We need their support more than ever.”

READ MORE: Shopmobility boss reveals how charity has coped during coronavirus pandemic

Mr Drury said that people can ‘indirectly donate’ to Shopmobility via Amazon Smile, which donates 0.5 per cent of the price to nominated charities. He added members of the public can also nominate Shopmobility using the ‘birthday charity’ on Facebook.

The charity predicts that its reserves will be expended by December 2022, and unless new funding is secured by that time, it will have to close on May 31, 2023.

Explaining the council’s stance, Councillor John Harrison, executive member for culture, delivery and public protection (Conservative, Binfield with Warfield) said:

“As a council, we recognise the importance of the voluntary and community sector in enhancing the quality of life for our residents, and we continue to support a number of organisations. However, like all other local authorities, we have to target support for services where the service user numbers show the greatest need for funding.

As well as volunteers, Shopmobility hires Becky Pearce as a full time shop manager and Sue Lewis as a part time assistant manager. Their work for the charity is vital for keeping it in business. Credit: James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter

“We reviewed our voluntary sector grants in 2016/17, and Shopmobility was made aware their grant would be gradually reduced over a three-year period, to allow them time to become financially independent by 2020/21. Recognising that organisations such as Shopmobility are able to generate income from charges to their service users and an eightfold increase in visitors to the town centre pre-pandemic, support was tapered down.

“We worked with Shopmobility, fully consulting with them on this change, and support was offered to develop their business plan to help generate income. In light of the effects of Covid-19, we extended funding by an additional year for 2020-21.

“As the town centre has become increasingly busy following the relaxation of restrictions, the number of people wanting to use the Shopmobility service has been lower than expected. People who might previously have used Shopmobility scooters have possibly sourced their own mobility solutions, or they have changed their behaviour and are no longer visiting the town centre regularly.”