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Bridging Health Gaps
Creating Independence
Bridging Health Gaps
Building Communities
Creating Independence
Bridging Health Gaps
Creating Independence
Creating Independence
Creating Independence
About Us
Evolving to meet the needs of disabled people in Mid Ulster
Shopmobility Mid Ulster are a local registered charity based in Mid Ulster that provide disability equipment, advice and support to people who affected by mobility restrictions. The scheme was first established in 2010 through an identified need established by Community Transport, Community and voluntary organisations and the local council. The demand for the service is even more needed today, it is much more diverse and severely under resourced, yet provides a lifeline to so many across Mid Ulster and beyond.
BACKGROUND TO SHOPMOBILITY SERVICES
What is Shopmobility?
Shopmobility Mid Ulster provides mobility equipment such as wheelchairs, mobility scooters, walking aids and other mobility accessories to help people get around. The equipment is provided to all ages from young children to people who are elderly and end of life. The equipment provided is not just for shopping or town centres, we often take referrals from Emergency Departments, G.Ps, Occupational Therapists and other medical professionals. Our users have a broad range of medical conditions such as broken limbs, cancer (Chemo rehab), amputations, COPD, arthritis, stroke, hip/knee replacement, or sadly end of life care. We often hear of users being bed/house bound, looking to go out into their garden, not permitted home from hospital (post sickness or operation), visit friends, go to hospital/ medical appointments, and just do things that others take for granted such as shopping, attending leisure or social facilities. Equipment can be borrowed daily for free, or longer term for a small donation.
The benefits
The scheme helps to create greater independence to users, improve equality of opportunity to people who are excluded from society because of their mobility restrictions, reduces isolation and helps to prevent mental ill health. On a weekly basis we receive referrals from health care professionals including GPs, Occupational Therapists, Social Workers, Minor Injuries and many more. Shopmobility is for everyone
Registered with N.I. Charity Commission 106912
Company Reg no. NI637740
HMRC XT22921
Our History
2010 - where it all started
In 2010, following growing demand from users of Community Transport a Shopmobility Management Committee was formed to establish a Shopmobility Scheme in Cookstown Town Centre. A number of meetings were held which included key town centre stakeholders and input from a range of Shopmobility experts. Cookstown Rural Community Transport, Cookstown District Council, Cookstown MS Support Group all come together to set up the service, based in the Burnavon Arts Centre. Funding was received from Department for Regional Development (Now called Department for Infrastructure) and our first staff member was appointed to manage the project, Mark Farquhar.
2014 - Expanding to another town - Dungannon
Due to increases in demand from members in the Dungannon area, discussions with Dungannon & South Tyrone Borough Council (Now Mid Ulster District Council) took place and a new scheme was launched in Dungannon in October 2013, and located in Ranfurly House Arts & Visitor Centre. In January 2015 the organisation held an Extraordinary General Meeting and renamed the organisation Shopmobility Mid Ulster with 2 brands; Shopmobility Cookstown and Shopmobility Dungannon
2016 - Name Change
With changes in local council boundaries and the formation of Mid Ulster District Council, the previously names Shopmobility Cookstown became Shopmobility Mid Ulster. This was good timing with the formation of the new Charity Commission for N.I. registration in the new name was completed.
2019 - Going Rural with Gobility
In 2019, the organisation received funding over a five year period from The National Lottery Community Fund for a new Gobility programme. This broadened the existing service to a wider area and a greater number of users of mobility scooters and wheelchairs, and continue to address the social isolation and exclusion issues which the company deals with. Gobility covers many of the additional demands on the service including long term hire of equipment, delivery and collection of equipment, events, parks and forests.
2022 - expanding in Cookstown
Due to growing demand for equipment and the limit space within the Burnavon arts Centre, our Cookstown scheme relocated to new premises. Now located in the Fairhill Road, Cookstown, funding was sought to make the premises fit for purpose and the unit was opened on 1st December 2022.
2023 - Balmoral Show
One of the highlights for Shopmobility Mid Ulster was being awarded the contract to provide mobility equipment to Balmoral Show, one of the largest events in Northern Ireland. Working closely with our colleagues in Lisburn, We provided 20 mobility scooters and 20 wheelchairs to allow people attending the huge show which attracts over 100,000 visitors each year.
2024 - New location in Magherafelt
Shopmobility Magherafelt (Previously independent to Shopmobility Mid Ulster) has been one of the longest established schemes in Northern Ireland. When its manager died suddenly in 2023, the scheme closed. Shopmobility Mid Ulster applied to the Department for Infrastructure to re establish a scheme in Magherafelt, it was a fitting legacy to Seamus Davey to ensure the people of the area continue to receive a service he worked so hard to provide.
Transport Programme for people with disabilities
Core Funder - Department for Infrastructure
The core funder to Shopmobility Mid Ulster is the Department for Infrastructure through its Transport Programme for People with Disabilities. This funding has been ongoing since 2010 and is crucial to the survival of our vital services.
The aims of the Programme are:
•to target social need by improving accessibility of public transport to people with disabilities who cannot avail of existing conventional services in Northern Ireland •to complement the work of existing service providers involved in programmes designed to promote social inclusion for people with reduced mobility.
Through the programme we jointly aim to:
"build a prosperous society through accessible infrastructure"
Some of our Funders
