Charities fund powered wheelchairs free service
THREE new power-assisted wheelchairs are now available to islanders for short-term use, thanks to a donation from the Sure Community Foundation and Guernsey Revival.
The two charities have teamed up to provide the wheelchairs and have arranged for the Ron Short Centre to house them at Beau Sejour and run the booking system.
The service is free and will provide support to anyone who requires it.
Islanders will be able to book the use of one of the chairs for a set period from an hour up to a full day.
Carers and family members will also be able to book the chairs on the individual’s behalf.
The idea for the wheelchair donation came from Sure Community Foundation committee member Karen Jagger and Jeff Fox, of Guernsey Revival, who secured funding from the Retro Festival and the Sure Community Foundation.
‘Our partnership with Retro and the Ron Short Centre will be hugely useful for the many islanders with temporary disabilities who require support. The Sure Community Foundation has a great relationship with both Guernsey Revival and the centre, so it was easy to bring this amazing idea together,’ said Ms Jagger.
The funding of the chair provided by Guernsey Revival was raised at the Retro Festival, the charity’s flagship event, which raises funds for a different good cause at each edition.
Mr Fox and fellow Guernsey Revival member Dennis Le Prevost said: ‘We’re always looking to raise funds for good causes and helping some of our most marginalised and isolated islanders certainly qualifies.
‘Guernsey Revival is proud to partner with the Sure Community Foundation and The Ron Short Centre to give disabled islanders the dignity of being able to navigate our beautiful island like everyone else.’
Ron Short Centre MD Rob Harnish said it was excited to be involved with the scheme.
‘This initiative will help many people and will stop people feeling isolated because they are unable to get around,’ he said.
‘We are already benefiting from a donation from the Sure Community Foundation last year and are delighted to be working with them again.’
n A wheelchair can be rented by getting in touch with the Ron Short Centre on 724333 from 28 March.
