Latest news with #Shopmobility
BBC News
23-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
New SEND school plan for Market Harborough building
A new school for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) could be created in Market Aurora Group has submitted a planning application to Harborough District Council to convert the Roman Way Community Centre into a SEND to planning documents the proposed school would accommodate 88 pupils aged between five and 19 and employ about 64 members of move comes after mobility scooter service charity Shopmobility, which previously worked out of the community centre, closed in February after the premises was put up for sale by Leicestershire County Council. The group has stated the centre would provide "much-needed" school places for children and young people with special educational needs and proposed school would consist of 11 classrooms, a multi-use games area and an outdoor play area.A planning statement adds: "There is a clear evidenced demand for this type of school in the local area and the proposals make use of a vacant site which no longer supports the community."The Aurora Group operates 19 schools and supports more than 1,200 children, young people and adults across England.
BBC News
10-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Wolverhampton Shopmobility equipment given away as service ends
Free mobility equipment including scooters and wheelchairs are to be given to Shopmobility customers and veterans in Wolverhampton ahead of the city shop unit service, which rents a range of equipment, has seen a significant drop in users since the pandemic, with an average of just 13 customers a week over the past few years, the city council closure - a £29,000 saving - was announced last year as part of a major review of council services as the authority looked to save more than £ service will stop over a three-month period, starting from this week, the council added. The service operated between 09:30 and 14:30 BST with customers only permitted to use motorised equipment within the city centre ring customers can be given equipment, they have more choice about the times they visit the city and the locations they can travel to, the local authority equipment to be donated includes, motorised scooters and wheelchairs as well as manual wheelchairs with items also being offered to military veterans via local charity the Staffordshire Regiment Bhupinder Gakhal, cabinet member for resident services, said the decision to end the service was not taken lightly."With increasing pressures on council budgets, we have to be realistic and unfortunately the service has not been well-used for a number of years," he said. "This is despite our efforts to promote it via a number of methods including direct contact with users and advertising to care homes and supported living organisations."Our other option was to significantly increase our fees and charges, but this would have a real impact on customers and be likely to further reduce the already low number of users." Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
