City Hall donates Olympic scooters to local Shopmobility schemes

City Hall is to donate mobility scooters used to transport attendees during the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games to the capital’s Shopmobility schemes, Deputy Mayor of London Victoria Borwick has announced.

Shopmobility schemes help older and mobility impaired Londoners access local shops, ensuring they remain active and playing a part in the local community and economy.

The Greater London Authority purchased 76 of the scooters from Games organisers and is allocating them to both existing Shopmobility schemes and groups wishing to set up new schemes.

The move is part of the Mayor’s promise to deliver an Olympic legacy for all communities within London and complements other initiatives to increase London’s accessibility.

Announcing the recipients of the scooters, Deputy Mayor Borwick, said: “The Mayor recognised that many mobility services in London have been underfunded for a long time and he saw this as a great opportunity to do something to address that.

“These scooters made a huge difference to people last summer and it’s great news that they will now assist Londoners across the capital to get around more easily.

“Helping more people to get out and about so they can shop more easily will also give a boost to local businesses and high streets too. This project really is a great example of the Olympic and Paralympic legacy in action.”

Recipients
Location                              Name of organisation

Bexley                                     Bexley Accessible Transport Scheme – 5
Camden                                   African Physical Training Organisation – 5
Camden                                   Passenger and Accessible Transport Services – 5  
Ealing                                     Ealing Shopmobility Scheme – 5
Harrow                                     Harrow Shopmobility Scheme – 6
Harrow                                     Age UK Harrow – 2
Havering                                 Havering Shopmobility Scheme – 4
Hillingdon                               Hillingdon Shopmobility Scheme – 2
Hounslow                                Hounslow Shopmobility Scheme – 2
Kensington & Chelsea              Out & About Scooters/Westway CT – 5
Kingston                                  Kingston Shopmobility Scheme – 3
Lewisham                                 Lewisham Shopmobility Scheme – 2
Merton                                     Merton Community Transport – Scootability Project – 6
Newham                                   SUBCO Trust – 2
Newham                                   Newham African Caribbean Resource Centre – 6              
Redbridge                                Ilford Shopmobility Scheme – 5
Sutton                                      Sutton Shopmobility Scheme – 5
Wandsworth                             Wandsworth Shopmobility Scheme – 6