Community transport - Shopmobility

Shopmobility promotes and enhances the independence of people with limited mobility through the use of mobility equipment.

Solihull Shopmobility offers manual and electric wheelchairs and motorised scooters to help people shopping in the Town Centre. The service is available for anyone who finds it difficult getting around because of illness, age, accident, injuries or disability. It is a registered charity and its registration number is 1064688.

Kenneth in May 2009: "I think the introduction of Shopmobility is one of the best things that has happened to Solihull.  I also wish to praise the courteous and helpful assistance we always receive from the staff on duty."  

Where is Shopmobility?

Solihull Shopmobility operates from two bases in Solihull town centre:

• A shop at 19 Drury Lane, located in the Mell Square Shopping Centre.
• In the 'Welcome Hall' of Touchwood Car Park, orange parking zone.

How much will it cost?

To register as a user of Shopmobility a yearly payment of £10.00 is required along with a £1 customer user charge.  Shopmo KidZ user registration is free up to the age of 18.

We also offer non-members one-off day hire of manual wheelchairs for £3 a day and scooters for £5 a day. 

The fees and charges (along with any donations) go directly to the provision of the service. Mell Square, Touchwood and Solihull Council all provide major funding to the Charity. A valuable team of volunteers help with the delivery of an award-winning customer care service.

What is available for our adult users?

• Outside the Drury Lane shop there are 18 parking spaces for blue badge holders.
• First 3 hours parking is free in Mell Square, House of Fraser and Touchwood car parks for equipment users 
• Parking bays in the Touchwood car park
• 40 motorised scooters - 3 and 4 wheel
• 23 manual wheelchairs
• 7 power chairs - (4 dual control)
• Toilet facilities at Drury Lane
• A 'meet and greet' service from the Ring and Ride bus stop in Mell Square
• Regular issues of 'Shopmobility News'
• Manual Wheelchair Hire service
• Shopmo Kids equipment (9 wheelchairs and 4 pushchairs)

Using the Service

All you need to do is register to use Shopmobility's facilities on your first visit. Remember to bring with you two  items for proof of identity, showing your name and address (driving licence, up to date utility bill, pension book etc).

Once you have registered you will be able to use the service whenever you like. We strongly recommend that you pre-book your equipment in case demand is heavy on any particular day.

On your arrival, the required mobility equipment will be made available and you will then be given suitable training. Part of the registration procedure is for customers to read the 'conditions of use' leaflet, in the registration pack.

Using the Equipment

Whether you are a novice or an experienced user of mobility equipment you will be given a demonstration on how the equipment works. We will only send you out on the equipment once we are certain that you can use the equipment safely.

Opening Times

Drury Lane - Monday to Saturday

9.00a.m. to 4.30pm

Touchwood

Monday to Saturday

9.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.

Sunday

11.00a.m. to 4.00 p.m.

Additional opening times (late nights) may be introduced leading up to Christmas.

Safety

Solihull town centre is a busy pedestrianised area and it is essential that you keep the speed turned down low as pedestrians often walk without looking and may stop unexpectedly. A powered vehicle cannot stop as quickly as a pedestrian so always leave plenty of room. Please adhere to all the 'conditions of use' to help make your shopping experience in Solihull an enjoyable one.

What are the Benefits?

A customer survey amongst Solihull Shopmobility customers in 2010 indicated the economic benefit of the charity to the local economy.  The survey showed that each customer spent £43 on average every time he or she visited the town centre. It is estimated that Shopmobility customers spend more than £500,000 in Solihull shops every year - excluding any extra money spent by family and friends.

Contact Details

If you wish to know more about the scheme, or make a donation, you can write to:

Solihull Shopmobility
19 Drury Lane
Solihull
B91 3BB

Or phone:
0121 711 8701 Drury Lane
0121 711 4231 Touchwood

Fax Number: 0121 705 0824

Or email: shopmobility@solihull.gov.uk

 

Passporting arrangement with Birmingham Shopmobility

Since 1st April 2010 members of Solihull Shopmobility have been able to use the wheelchairs and scooters belonging to Birmingham Shopmobility in return for paying the daily charge of £1.  And members of Birmingham Shopmobility have been able to do the same when they come to Drury Lane or Touchwood.   Members wishing to use the equipment at the other Shopmobility will be asked to produce their laminated membership card showing their photo and date of registration.   If this passporting arrangement is successful we hope to spread the idea to other Shopmobilities across the West Midlands. 

 

Customer Survey Shows 100% Approval Rating for Solihull Shopmobility

 The latest survey of members has delivered a huge vote of confidence in the service supplied by staff and volunteers.  Every respondent has said they were happy with the equipment provided and the warm welcome from the people working at the two shops.  A copy of the comments received to February 2010 is attached.

 

Solihull Shopmobility Wins National Award

Solihull Shopmobility has won an award from the National Shopmobility Federation. 

Every year the Federation gives the ‘Ecclesiastical Best Practice Award’ to the Shopmobility that has come up with a ground-breaking innovation.  This year the judges were impressed with the launch of the joint Solihull and Birmingham Passporting Scheme.  ‘Passporting’ allows members in Solihull and Birmingham to use each other’s equipment for just £1 a day – giving more choice for disabled people.  Now there are plans to expand Passporting to other Shopmobility centres around the West Midlands.

Ann Ansell, Chair of the National Federation, said “Solihull Shopmobility has shown the way forward for other schemes.  I am delighted to be able to give them this award”.

 

DisabledGo

Shops and businesses in Solihull have been reviewed by DisabledGo (a national organisation) to establish what they have in the way of disabled facilities.  If you are thinking of visiting an establishment you may want to go to www.disabledgo.com first to check accessibility etc.

To return to this page later, you can type in the following address: http://www.solihull.gov.uk/shopmobility/