About Ipswich Shopmobility
Ipswich Shopmobility provides free hand-propelled and electric wheelchairs and electric scooters to help people who have limited mobility, whether through permanent or temporary disablement, illness, accident or age, to shop and use other facilities in the town centre.
Location
The Shopmobility Centre is inside the Buttermarket Shopping Centre on the Lower Ground level.
- By Car: Use the Falcon Street entrance to the Buttermarket Car Park and follow signs to the 5 designated disabled bays.
- By Foot: Enter via St. Stevens Lane or Buttermarket Street entrance and use the lift to reach the Lower Ground level.
Opening hours
- Monday to Saturday: 10am - 4pm
- Closed: Sundays and Bank Holidays
- Booking: Advanced booking is advised. Call 01473 222225 (Mon-Fri, 8.30am-5pm; Sat, 10am-4pm).
Booking information
Equipment can be booked for up to 4 hours in any one day and all bookings are made to start at 10 - minute intervals, so that we can stagger customer arrival and departure times.
On arrival, please confirm your membership details by showing your membership card, so we can verify the booking. If you are looking to become a member, you will need to show us something with your name and address, such as a driving license, utility bill or bank statement. Full training on the equipment will be given to all new members.
Your equipment will have been prepared and sanitised for you and left outside Shopmobility for your collection.
It is essential customers return within the time agreed so we can prepare equipment for the next customer.
Ipswich Shopmobility does not open in times of bad weather. Customers will be contacted if we need to cancel bookings, please make sure you have a mobile telephone with you, and it is turned on, so that we can contact you whilst using the equipment if we need to.
Contact details
Ipswich Borough Council
Corn Exchange
King Street
Ipswich
IP1 1DH
Email:
shopmobility@ipswich.gov.uk
Phone: 01473 432220
FAQs
Can I book more than once a week?
Yes, up to two slots per week.
What if I am running late?
Contact us as soon as possible.
Does Shopmobility offer long-term hire?
Sadly no, we are unable to provide overnight or longer-term equipment hire. But do please call to discuss, we may be able to advise other alternatives.
How Shopmobility works
On your first visit to the Shopmobility Centre you will be asked to produce some identification showing your name and address, to enable the completion of a simple registration card for insurance purposes. Once you have been issued with a membership card, you will need to present it each time you visit in order to obtain equipment.
A member of the Shopmobility staff or volunteer team will show you and any companions how the wheelchair or scooter works and when you are confident that you can handle it - away you go!
At the end of your visit you need to return the chair or scooter back to Shopmobility yourself. If you have parked in one of the Shopmobility bays, we can validate your parking for up to 2 hours. Please note we only lend equipment on a daily basis and are not able to provide equipment for overnight hire.
Donations
There is no charge for using Shopmobility equipment but the scheme does need all the help it can get to meet running and repair costs, so donations are always welcome.
Parking
There are 5 designated parking spaces reserved for Shopmobility users in the Buttermarket car park adjacent to the Shopmobility Centre. If these bays are full there are other disabled bays throughout the carpark that can also be used when a Blue Badge is displayed. When using Shopmobility equipment you are entitled to two hours free parking. Upon return of the equipment you will be given a unique one time code to enter into the payment machine, alongside your car registration number (so have that handy) that will validate your parking and take off the cost of 2 hours. You will then need to pay the difference if you have stayed longer. If you need a cone moving from one of our 5 designated bays prior to parking please request this upon booking.
Volunteers
Ipswich Shopmobility often needs volunteers.
Find out more by downloading our flyer.
Volunteering is a great way to develop your potential, gain work experience and boost your CV while making a big difference to lives of mobility-impaired people.
For more information, visit the Volunteer with Ipswich Shopmobility page.
RADAR keys
The RADAR National Key Scheme (NKS) provides special keys to access locked disabled toilets across the UK.
You can purchase RADAR keys for £3.50:
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Online
Click the button below to buy online for collection at Shopmobility. Please note that the button opens in a new window.
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In Person
Buy with cash at Shopmobility. Please bring the exact amount, as we cannot provide change.