Bleeper solves a shopping bother
SHOPPING has been made easier for disabled people thanks to a new high-tech system. Hillingdon Shopmobility has been given a new ServiceCall System - which allows customers to attract the attention of its staff - by Barclays Bank. Disabled people can use a small, infrared transmitter to activate a receiver in Shopmobility's window at The Chimes shopping centre, Uxbridge. The receiver bleeps, alerting staff inside that someone requires service, without the customer having to sound a horn, flash lights or ask a passer-by for help. Disabled people can buy the handset transmitter for £9.99. They point it at the receiver unit in the window of the office -on the centre's car park level two and they see flashes which tell them someone has been alerted. Co-ordinator Sue Johnson said: "Car parks are sometimes noisy places, and it has been difficult for us to distinguish between a customer trying to attract our attention and drivers signalling to each other. "Having ServiceCall will really help us, especially with our special late night Christmas shopping evenings." The handsets can be used anywhere that displays a ServiceCall sign.

Adapted from the Uxbridge Gazette 14th November, 2001

Three years of better access
SHOPPERS could hardly miss the electric scooters whizzing through The Chimes shopping centre, trailing helium-filled balloons, last week. The party atmosphere was created as Hillingdon Shopmobility celebrated its third anniversary. co-ordinator Sue Johnson, said: "People have gone out quite happily and the centre is bubbling. "Some of Our customers go really fast, and you could see them whizzing around with the balloons. "The day itself was relatively busy, and people have popped in to wish us well." Shopmobility is a charity which assists those with mobility problems to access and enjoy the facilities of The Chimes, The Pavilions and the rest of Uxbridge High Street. It lends various forms of wheeled transport, from electric buggies to wheelchairs, with which the whole area is now accessible. The charity's database is now nearly 1,000 customers, and the increase, said Sue Johnson, is in part due to its new location. She said: "The customer base has really taken off since we moved here. "I think the extra publicity on the back of The Chimes helped raise our profile." The charity moved into a purpose-built office, complete with charging facilities for the electric vehicles' batteries, when The Chimes opened in March. It was previously housed at The Pavilions. There is also more equipment available for users, and Sue Johnson said: "People can now borrow the scooters long-term and have them for a weekend or full week. "For example, if they are going away on holiday, or if people have relatives to stay, they can borrow the chair on their behalf." The charity started in 1998, and has grown considerably. In its fleet of electrically-Powered machines it has 17 scooters, two power chairs, six wheel-chairs, and four chrome chairs for weekend and holiday hire .
The Shopmobility office is on the second floor of the centre's multi-storey car park, and there are plenty of car parking spaces reserved for Shopmobility users. Call 01895271510 for details.

Adapted from the Uxbridge Leader 1st August, 2001

Unpaid helpers to be honoured
THE organisation which helps disabled people do their shopping more easily is celebrating its third anniversary tomorrow. Hillingdon Shopmobility is just one of the borough's many groups which rely on volunteers to provide a much-needed service. The part these invaluable people play in many groups is to be recognised with new awards. The Gazette has teamed up with Hillingdon Association of voluntary Services (HAVS) to honour the countless numbers of dedicated unpaid helpers. The awards will mark the International Year of Volunteering which aims to raise the profile of volunteering worldwide Nominations are already flooding in to HAVS. All nominations must be accompanied by the name and address and day-time telephone number of both the nominee and the person, or organisation, nominating them. Hillingdon Shopmobility, which began in 1998, has 1,000 registered customers who use the fleet of scooters, power chairs and wheelchairs which are kept in the Chimes shopping centre, High Street, Uxbridge. A dedicated team of volunteers under the guidance of co-ordinator Sue John- son helps shoppers with limited mobility from Monday-Saturday from 9am-5pm. Former volunteer Shirley House, who now works for Hillingdon Shopmobility as a project assistant, said: "Our team of six volunteers is very important. The members give their time freely and with- out them we couldn't run." Hillingdon Shopmobility receives a grant from Hillingdon Council and is supported by local businesses. A National Lottery grant will also help the scheme continue running for the next three years. For more information about Shopmobility phone 01895271510.

Taken from the Uxbridge Gazette 25th July, 2001

New home for scooter service
SHOPMOBlLITY is growing in leaps and bounds now that it has moved to new offices inside The Chimes shopping centre. Sue Johnson, co-ordinator for the service, which provides free electric scooters and wheelchairs to disabled shoppers, said: "We've got three times the space we had at the Pavilions, which means we can have twice the amount of vehicles. "Our other offices were so crammed full we were in danger of falling over the scooters." The new offices to the left of the Odeon Cinemas, near the second floor car park, also have running water, a disabled toilet, a larger reception space and wider doors. I "There is also about five times the amount of disabled parking, which is a real plus for our customers," she said. The fleet of electric scooters also got anew addition on Monday thanks to a £2,200 donation from the Uxbridge branch of the Halifax. The four-wheeled scooter means another 20 customers can use shopmobility each week. shopmobility now has 12 electric scooters, eight manual wheel- chairs and two power chairs. Service is free for the disabled, the elderly or anyone with reduced mobility but customers need to register with shopmobility. Those who need wheels to shop, whether at The Chimes, The Pavilions or on Uxbridge High Street, can ring on 01895 271510.

Taken from the Uxbridge Leader 21st March, 2001

Wheely grateful for help
A CHARITY which helps less mobile people shop with ease in Uxbridge, has had a boost to its resources. The number of people using the services of Hillingdon Shopmobility has grown since it was launched more than a year ago. It had a busy time during the Christmas period with 25 people a day wanting to use the service. Mrs Johnson said: "It was hectic, but we managed by staggering the rotas and everyone who wanted the use of equipment got it." Nicholas Smith, district manager for Barclays Bank, presented the charity with a new wide wheel- chair just before the Christmas rush. Co-ordinator of the charity Sue Johnson said: "The bank runs quiz nights each month for a different charity and it held one for us last year and raised £780. "We have medium wheelchairs, I but we really needed a wide wheel- chair. " After we bought this there \vas money left over to buy some bltm- kets and collapsible walking sticks." The service is there for anyone of any age whatever. their condition. There are power chairs, power scooters and wheelchairs available and although the service is free, donations are welcome. More volunteers are needed to help man the office for a minimum of three hours a week to take calls and issue equipment.

Taken from the Uxbridge Gazette 19th January, 2001

Future rosy for services helping the elderly
LOTTERY grants worth nearly a quarter of a million pounds have saved one voluntary service from closure and secured the future of another.
Age Concern Hillingdon's, advocacy scheme, which helps elderly people stand up for their rights, ran out of funding from charities City Parochial and Red Nose Day in September.
Although those who work as advocates are volunteers, a paid manager is needed to run the project. Now the £108,000 grant can support two part-time managers for three years.
Celia Mackay, voluntary scheme co-ordinator for Age Concern, said: "We did a dance when we heard. I still haven't come down."
Shopmobility, which loans electric and manual wheelchairs and electric scooters to shoppers in Uxbridge who have limited mobility, is also secure for another three years with a grant of £112,434.
Sue Johnson, Shopmobility co-ordinator, said: "All the hard work completing the lottery form has now paid off.
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank Hillingdon Association of Voluntary Services for their help and advice.
"The money means the scheme will now be able to grow and develop to meet the needs of our customers."
Contact Shopmobility on 01895271510 and Age Concern Hillingdon on 0895431331.

Taken from the Uxbridge Gazette November 08, 2000

Charities' lottery win
CASH to keep two borough charities running has arrived in the nick of time.
Age Concern Hillingdon's advocacy scheme ran out of funding in September.
The charity, which gives a voice to the elderly and helps them secure their rights, was backed by the charity City Parochial and by cash from Comic Relief, the annual televised fund-raiser.
Now grants supplied through the National Lottery will fund Age Concern Hillingdon and Shopmobility, a scheme which provides wheelchairs for Uxbridge town centre shoppers with mobility difficulties.
It will get £112,434 for the next three years' work. The group is set to occupy purpose-built premises in The Chimes shopping centre in Uxbridge High Street when it opens next March.
Shopmobility co-ordinator, Sue Johnson, said: "All the hard work completing the lottery form has now paid off and I would like to take this opportunity to thank Hillingdon Association of Voluntary Services for their help and advice.
"The money means the scheme will now be able to grow and develop to meet the needs of our customers."
Celia Mackay, voluntary scheme co-ordinator for Age Concern Hillingdon, said: "We did a dance when we heard. I still haven't come down."
Her charity received £108,000 to pay two part- time managers over three years.
Shopmobility can be contacted on 01895271510 and Age Concern Hillingdon on 01895431331.

Shoppers scooter with confidence
SHOPPERS with limited mobility are zooming round Uxbridge stores on new scooters electric carts from Hillingdon Shopmobility.
The organisation marked a milestone last month when it signed up its 500th customer, Betty Hutchinson, after being in operation for just two years.
The charity, which is based in the Pavilions, received donations totalling £5,500 in the past year, meaning it could replace older machines.
Sue Johnson, co-ordinator, said: "The older ones were prone to breaking down, so this money meant we could get some nice, new scooters.
"This gives our customers much more confidence when they use them for their shopping or leisure needs."
Mrs Hutchinson had not been shopping since last Christmas, due to her difficulty in getting around the shops, so her successful trip to buy new clothes demonstrates how invaluable Hillingdon Shopmobility is to the people who use it.
Anyone with mobility problems, not just those registered as disabled, can use the service and borrow a manual, powered wheelchair, or Scooter.
There is no charge to register, although donations are always welcomed by the organisation.
Call Ms Johnson on 01895 271510 for more information on using Hillingdon Shopmobility.

Taken from the Uxbridge Gazette October 10, 2000

Dick gets database up and running
HILLINGDON Shopmobility is one of the charities to benefit from West London Expertise Bank. It was set up in 1997 and lends electric scooters, as well as powered and manual wheelchairs, to people with limited mobility while they are shopping in Uxbridge town centre.
The organisation had a one-year-old laptop computer with Windows '95. It asked for help in setting up a manageable database of its 300 members.
St Albans field manager Dick Glover volunteered to run this project. He spent half a day with Shopmobility' s Sue Johnson to define her needs, then went away and wrote the database before returning for another half-day session during which he installed the software and taught Sue how to use it.
He also wrote standard queries so that Sue could generate lists for mail-shots.
"It was straightforward, although Sue also said she was not certain about something in Word and in spreadsheets, so it didn't just end up as a database day."
Sue found the time with Dick very useful.
"I'd only been doing the job, a few weeks and I was really keen. Even though I'd used a computer I didn't know how to use a database. I kept adding bits but Dick didn't mind.
"'We now have a practical database that we can use easily and Dick did such a great job that we haven't needed back-up."

Taken from BT Today September, 2000

Proud Sue is report winner
ONE of Hillingdon's newest and smallest charities has received a special mention for the standard of its book- keeping.
Hillingdon Shopmobility, which provides wheelchairs for the elderly and disabled to shop with ease, has won third prize at the Charities Aid Foundation annual report and accounts awards in the category of £100,000 and under for its 1998-1999 annual report; compiled by co-ordinator Sue Johnson.
"I had actually forgotten we had even entered until they phoned us last month to say we had been short-listed," said Mrs Johnson.
"It was the first time I have ever written a report so it was a real honour and surprise to get a special mention."
BBC newsreader Martin Lewis and Alderman Sir Brian Jenkins presented Mrs Johnson with a certificate at a ceremony held at the Chartered Accountants' Hall in Moorgate.
"We will certainly be entering again this year, but this time we have every intention of winning first place.
"Getting the certificate has been a real boost for our morale, particularly when we were up against multi-million pound charities who have hundreds of staff, not just a handful like us," Mrs Johnson said.
Based in the Cedars car park in Oxford Road, Shopmobility is funded by Hillingdon Council and is sponsored by Uxbridge High Street businesses which provide the equipment and cover maintenance costs.

Taken from the Uxbridge Gazette April 26, 2000