Disabled people in Brighton and Hove face a winter of isolation
By Lucy Vallis, Chief Executive of Possability People
This winter, we’re being forced to close Brighton’s Shopmobility service. For all of us at Possability People, it’s a decision that breaks our hearts.
For many disabled people, Shopmobility isn’t just about hiring a scooter or a wheelchair. It’s about being able to go shopping, meet a friend for coffee, or simply enjoy being part of city life with their families. Without it, many will be left stuck at home, isolated, and excluded from the heart of our community.
The reason is brutally simple – money. It costs around £15,000 to keep Shopmobility running, with winter months the most expensive, and we simply don’t have it. The service is run by generous volunteers, so every penny goes directly into the service itself; charging, repairing and servicing the scooters, paying for insurance, and keeping the lights on.
Unlike other parts of the country, where Shopmobility is supported by councils or shopping centres, in Brighton it falls on a small charity like ours to keep it going. And after years of horrendous rising costs and shrinking funding, we simply can’t plug the gap anymore.
£15,000 might not sound like much in the context of council budgets, but for us it’s the difference between independence and exclusion for disabled people. It’s a decision that should shame a city that prides itself on inclusion.
We will fight to reopen in the spring, but Shopmobility cannot survive on hope alone. So, our city has a choice – to leave disabled people cut off from their city centre, or to work with us to keep the doors open.
The work we do matters. You can see it in our impact report. The independence, dignity and connection that disabled people gain from services like Shopmobility is evident.
And let’s not forget the economic reality. The Purple Pound (the spending power of disabled people and their families) is worth over £270 billion in the UK. Closing Shopmobility doesn’t just shut people out of shops, cafes and community life, it shuts their money out too. It’s so short-sighted for a city that depends on a thriving local economy.
Supporting Shopmobility might not be headline news, but it’s a promise that dignity, independence and equality are for everyone. £15,000 is all it takes to keep that promise. If you can help, now is the time to step forward.
Get in touch.
Lucy Vallis – Chief Executive Officer