Help: Shopmobility Aberdeen provide scooters and wheelchairs for people with limited mobility.

An Aberdeen disability charity wants to extend its services with the help of a £6000 grant.

Shopmobility Aberdeen lends powered and manual wheelchairs and scooters for use throughout the city centre to people who have long-term disabilities or illnesses.

The charity, which has bases in Aberdeen at Union Square and St Nicholas House, helps people with limited mobility to shop and use local facilities independently or with family and friends.

Shopmobility Aberdeen is amongst the applicants in the running for the RBS CommunityForce awards of £6000.

The RBS CommunityForce initiative will see 81 community groups each receive a £6000 windfall. More than 1000 organisations have applied and members of the public are currently voting to decide who will win.

The public vote closes on October 23.

The charity would use the money to purchase a heavy duty scooter capable of carrying someone up to 200kg, three wheelchairs and a paediatric manual wheelchair.

Manager Katrina Erskine said the grant would make a major difference.

She said: “We currently have 12 scooters but a few of them are on their last legs. On average they make around 300 trips a year and make a major difference to people’s lives.

“It has become increasingly difficult to secure funding in the current economic climate. Before you could perhaps ask the local authority for help but everyone is feeling the pinch now. The £6000 award would be a massive help.”

http://local.stv.tv/aberdeen/news/25463-disability-charity-chasing-more-mobility-scooters/