Shopmobility is currently run by a full time paid Manager who oversees the running of both Ormskirk & Skelmersdale sites and is assisted by four part time paid members of staff. We also have a dedicated team of Volunteers.

Shopmobility relies heavily on sponsorship, not just for the purchase of new equipment, but for maintenance and running costs.

Our Charitable organisation was initially sponsored in many ways:

The Community Fund, Primary Care Trust (PCT), Single Regeneration Budget (SRB), West Lancashire District Council, The Co-op Foundation, Scoota Mart and Douglas Valley Lions.

Direct sponsorship came from the business and retail sector of the local areas, which helped pay towards the upkeep of Shopmobility. Also, customer donations went towards maintenance and some of the running costs.
However, most of the funding sources mentioned above have now dried up.

At the beginning of 2006 we were extremely lucky to receive a further three years funding support from Big Lottery Fund that allowed us to keep the service operating until February 2009.

In view of this support ceasing, we have recently submitted an application to the Big Lottery Funds “Reaching Communities” Programme and are hoping for a favourable outcome to our application.

The recently formed Central Lancashire Primary Care Trust (formerly West Lancashire NHS Primary Care Trust), have kindly agreed to provide funding support for the whole of 2009 in recognition of the health benefits our members receive by being a member of Shopmobility.

We have succeeded in forging links with Scootermart – a mobility retail company now known as Keep Able, Hearing and Mobility in Skelmersdale. They have allowed us to continue to provide our service from within their shop free of charge thereby saving money in rent and utility charges. They have also provided us with new equipment at a highly discounted rate so that our members can use new safe, reliable mobility equipment.

We rely on donations from the public and those that use our service. We also rely on membership fees that help go part way towards the high cost of insurance. We constantly make applications to various funding bodies, to ensure the future stability of Shopmobility but competition is high as more and more organisations are formed making any funds available more difficult to secure.