SHOPMOBILITY MID ULSTER
DIRECTORS. REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023
The directors present the accounts for Shopmobility Mid Ulster for the year ended 31 March 2023. This is
company limited by guarantee with no share capital. In April 2016, Shopmobility Mid Ulster took over the assets
and liabilities of the unincorporated entity which prior to this date had provided the service now provided by
Shopmobilily Mid Ulster.
Background
In 2010 a Shopmobility Management Committee was fo￿ed to establish a Shopmobility Scheme in
Cookstown Town Centre. A number of meetings were held which included key lown centre stakeholders and input
from a range of Shopmobility experts.
The Bumavon Arts & Cultural Cenlre, Bum Road, Cookstown was selected as the location to base the
scheme. Il's a public building which is accessible in a prime town cenlre lo￿tIOn in dose proximity to key amenities
and services.
In May 2010, funding from the Department for Regional Development {Now Department for Infrastructure) was
agreed and the scheme commenced activities in May 2010. Due to increases in demand from members in the
Dungannon area. discussions with Dungannon & South Tyrone Borough Council (Now Mid Ulster District Council)
took place and a new scheme was launched in Dungannon in October 2013. and located in Ranfurly House Arts &
Visitor Cenlre. In January 2015 the organisation held an Extraordinary General Meeting and renamed the
organisalion Shopmobility Mid Ulster with 2 brands- Shopmobility Cookstown and Shopmobility Dungannon.
In 2019, the company received funding over a five year period from The National Lottery Community Fund for a
new Gobility programme. This will broaden the existing service to a wider area and a greater number of users of
mobility scooters and wheelchairs, and continue to address the sooal isolation and exclusion issues which the
company deals with.
Structure, governance and management
The company is limited by guarantee. The company is govemed by tls Articles of Association which were
established in April 2016. These established its current objects and powers.
Shopmobility Mid Ulster has a cross-community focus and is managed by a voluntsry committee which
is elected annually.
The appointment of committee is in accordan￿ with the company's Articles of Association. whereby each member
will be enlilled to nominate one person only in writsng not less than seven days before the dale of Ihe Annual
General Meeting.
Committee
The committee who seNed during the year were:
Mr William Mayne MBE
Mrs Ursula Marshall
Mrs Brigid Scullion
Cllr Mark Glasgow
Cllr Christine McFlynn
Mr John McGorry
Cllr John McNamee
Cllr Jospeh O'Neill
CllrAnne Forde BEM

SHOPMOBILITY MID ULSTER
DIRECTORS. REPORT (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023
Objectives and activities
The objects of the Charity shall be to relieve the needs of people witt) disabiif(ies and mobility difficulties in the
greater Cookstown & Dungannon areas (the "area of benefit.) by providing or assisb'ng in the provision of
equipment and other faalities and services with the aim of facilitating independence in daily living activities and
improving the quality of their lives and in particular..
lal to alleviate the disadvantages of pemanent and temp)rary disability-
Ibl lo provide services which facilitste and advance the independence of such disabled persons in daily living
activrties outside the home environment-
Ic) to enhance the confidence. well-being and enjoyment of life of disabled persons through integration in social
activities.,
Idl to relieve the needs of people with disabilities by liaising with other societies, associations or bodies having
common or sharing similar interests or objects.
Achievements and perforniance
The past year has seen unprecedented growth in demand for Shopmobility services across Mid Ulster. Demand for
equipment. advice and support was at an all-time high since the organisation was established over 13 years ago.
This demand continues lo come from various strands of the heatth Servi￿ with referrals from minor injury units.
Occupalional Therapists, Emergency Departments, G.Ps and others.
As demand for services rises year on year, additional equipment is reqUI￿d to meet the need. During the past year
Shopmobility Mid Ulster purchased 10 additional wheelchairs. These wheelchairs are used to meet rising demand
and lo repla￿ older wheelchairs that are no longer fft for purpose.
The rising demand from users who wish trj get out and about more has been growing since the end of the
pandemic. The past year was the first full year without restricts'ons and it was evident with rising demand, the
importance that equipmenl would help lo older and disabled people to gain back some of the independence and
freedom lost during Covid 19. The demand for equipment rose by almost 25 /f* year on year with bookings lotalling
16,000 across the year. The demand is staggering and growing and although all our users have health related
conditions, approx. 3540/0 of our referrals come directly from Healthcare professionals, Minor Injury Units,
Emergency Departments. Occupational Therapists. Physio Departments. and G.Ps.
Long-temi borrowing and bridging gaps in Health requirements have led to the conlinued growth from long-term
borrowing of wheelchairs and scooters. Over the pasl year closer collatK)ration with Health Care Professionals has
brought about an increase in referrals from local hospitals. Occupabon Therapists and Social Workers. as the
project continues lo bridge the gap in waiting times for equipment. Broken limbs, amputations and cancer patients
have all been referred by medical professionals on a regular basis to borrow Shopmobility equipment whilst waiting
on NHS equipment.
There has been a growing demand for additional support servI￿s, signposting and referrals since the end of the
pandemic. Many new users who have little or no support structures in place, are reliant on getting infomation on
disability and older people help and support. This has continued to grow over the past number of years.
Flnancial revlew
The main funder continued to be the Department for Infrastructure. Shopmobility are requi￿￿ to generate match
funding lo cover expenditure not funded by Dfl which they have been able to do successfully.
The committee will continue to conduct annual reviews of the appropriate level of unrestricted reserves. The
purpose of this reserve is lo provide slability for the charity to ensure that it is able lo honour existing conlraclual
obligations. to cover unforeseen events beyond the organisation's control and to enable il to continue its operations
in the unlikely evenl of a significant fluctuation in expenditure or income.

SHOPMOBILITY MID ULSTER
DIRECTORS, REPORT (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023
The commrttee aim to build reserves to at least 3 months of annual expenditu￿. This may be achieved ty
increased funé raising, increasing eamed income or reducing expenditure.
The present level of Unrestricted Reserves available lo the charity is £5.651 which is deemed satisfactory.
Auditor
The auditor. David Lyttle + Co Ltd. is deemed to be reappointed under Sec1K￿ 487121 of the Companies Act 2CQ6.
Statement of disclosure to auditor
So far as the Director5 aware. there is no relevant audrt information of whith the charty's auditor are unaware.
Additionally. the Directors have taken all the necessary steps that they ought lo have taken as Directors in order to
make Ihernsefves awwe of all relevant audit information and to establish thal the charity s auditor are aware of Ihat
infoimation_
This report has been prepared in accordance wrth the prOv￿lOnS applicable lo companies enlrtled to the small
companies exemption.
On behatf of the board
Mr William Mayne MBE
Director
25 July 2023