What is Shopmobility?
Ipswich Shopmobility provides free hand-propelled and electric wheelchairs and electric scooters to help people who have limited mobility - through permanent or temporary disablement, illness, accident or age - to shop and use other facilities in the town centre.
How to Get There
The map shows the central shopping area with its pedestrianised streets and the location of the Shopmobility Centre which is located within the Buttermarket Shopping Centre and which is approached by car via the Falcon Street entrance.
Opening Hours
Monday - Saturday
9.30am - 5.00pm
Users are requested to return equipment at 4.30pm to allow closure of the centre at 5.00pm
Shopmobility also opens for additional hours in the run-up to Christmas. Please call for further details at the time.
Shopmobility is closed on Bank Holidays and also between Christmas and New Year.
Booking
To make sure that the wheelchair or scooter you require is available when you want it please telephone the Shopmobility Centre on 01473 222225 or call in to the Shopmobility Centre, Buttermarket Shopping Centre, St Stephen's Lane, Ipswich.
How to Use Ipswich Shopmobility
On your first visit to the Shopmobility Centre you will be asked for a form of identification showing your name and address, to enable the completion of a simple registration card for insurance purposes. A member of the Shopmobility Volunteer Staff will show you how the wheelchair or scooter works and when you are confident that you can handle it - away you go. If you wish to bring someone with you to help, then this is perfectly acceptable. At the end of your visit, return the chair or scooter to base. If you need help, a member of staff will accompany you to bring the chair back.
How much will it cost?
There is no charge for using the equipment but the scheme does need all the help it can get to meet running costs, so any donations you wish to make at any time will be welcome.
Parking for Shopmobility Users
Eleven designated parking spaces are reserved for Shopmobility users within the car park adjacent to the Shopmobility Centre. Two hours' free parking is available to Shopmobility users who park their vehicles in the designated spaces.
More Information
If you want to know more about Ipswich Shopmobility, think you could help by giving a few hours of your time to help staff the Centre, or wish to make a donation, please contact:
Heather Richards
Ipswich Shopmobility Co-ordinator
3rd Floor East
Grafton House
15-17 Russell Road
Ipswich
Suffolk
IP1 2DE
Telephone: 01473 432706
Email: heather.richards@ipswich.gov.uk
Related Links
National Federation of Shopmobility (opens in a new window)