The Blue Badge Scheme provides national parking concessions for people with severe walking difficulties who travel as drivers or passengers. The scheme is also for people who are severely sight impaired and for people with hidden disabilities including autism and mental health conditions.
To check if you are eligable, and to apply for or renew a badge, please go to the website below.
The cost of a blue badge is £10.
If you are disabled, you may be able to exchange your mobility allowance to get a vehicle that suits your needs. What’s more, you don’t even need to drive. Family, friends or carers can drive on your behalf.
The Motability Scheme enables disabled people to lease a new car, scooter or powered wheelchair by exchanging their Government funded mobility allowance. If you receive either the Higher Rate Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance (HRMC DLA), the Enhanced Rate of the Mobility Component of Personal Independence Payment (ERMC PIP), the War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement (WPMS) or the Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP) you may be eligible to join the Motability Scheme.
For more information, visit their website.
If you or someone in your property is disabled you may qualify for a Disabled Facilities Grant. This would help towards the cost of providing major adaptations and facilities that would help the person to live in their home. The applicant of the grant must be either the owner of the property or a tenant.
The landlord of the property may also apply and a tenant must have the permission of the landlord. There are conditions attached please ask on application. To apply contact Adult Social Care on the number below and ask for an Occupational Therapist Assessment or visit website for more information.
Need to hire a wheelchair? The British Red Cross provides a UK wide wheelchair hire service. They offer comfortable, safe and reliable manual wheelchairs whether you’re looking for self-propelled, transit or bariatric (wider seating, higher weight capacity) wheelchairs.
The British Red Cross offer:
• Wheelchair hire for £20 a week; includes free wheelchair accessories
• Delivery and collection of your wheelchair for an additional £25.00 charge in most areas; it will come fully assembled for your convenience
• Flexible hire periods (minimum hire period 1 week) at locations UK wide
• 12-week mandatory servicing and steam-cleaning to guarantee safe operation, fully crash tested
• Replacement provided during servicing
• Professional servicing and cleanliness standards in line with NHS Control of Infection policies, guaranteeing removal of all viruses (including C-Difficile, E-Coli and Covid-19)
To hire a wheelchair, visit the website and search for your nearest hire location.
You may be able to apply for a disabled person’s rail card if you are in receipt of certain benefits, are visually impaired or registered as deaf. The card will allow you a third off rail travel and costs £20.00 a year. Please see website for details.
Accessible Countryside for Everyone (ACE) is an independent voluntary project that promotes and publicises public footpaths, bridleways, green lanes, trails and tracks that are accessible to all.
The site lists walks and paths that are suitable for those using mobility aids such as scooters and includes links to sites where you can rent or hire them.
Visit the website to find out more.
