Bracknell charity says grant refusal and Covid impact is 'killing them'

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.

Leading volunteers at the charity told the News in September, that they only had just over 18 months to survive unless they got more support.

Charlie Drury, the charities newly appointed chairman confirmed this week that although their ebay sales are slowly taking them away from that position, they are still in danger.

He said: “Before Covid Bracknell Forest were steadily reducing our grant. At its max it was £32,800 but it dropped down over time because the theory was that we would become self-sufficient, and we were working that way until Covid hit.”

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

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Now that their council grant application has been rejected, Mr Drury says that they are desperately trying to find people that will give them grants and sponsor them.

At the moment, the charity are doing everything they can to fundraise, and in the last three months, their digital platform has gone from strength to strenth. With over 1200 of their items on ebay, their volunteers are busier than ever. They also do tabletop sales, car boot sales, craft sales and raffles throughout the year.

Charlie said: “We do absolutely anything we can because none of us wants this to close. We are completely reliant on other people’s generosity.

“At the moment we are currently waiting for the decision to come through from the National Lottery grant, which will give us £50,000 over the next two years.

“If that comes in then we are safe for two years. However, I look at the fact that even if we get that, we still need to raise a lot of money because I want us to be here in ten years.”

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

“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 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.”

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In closing Mr Drury said:

“I stood up at the last AGM where I was elected as chairman and told them that one of my goals is that by November next year, I want to have no worry of closing.

“It’s a really important cause and people have to realise that the people that come in here desperately need the service. If we don’t keep it going, they are going to suffer.

“There IS a future for Shopmobility provided we can be here long enough, AND WE WILL.”