Asda grant CPM new minibus! Wednesday 23rd August 

Cerebral Palsy Midlands (CPM) have been successful in a bid for a grant from the Asda Foundation and now have a new minibus to help disabled adults to be able to access the community. 

 

Community Champion Katey Titley first visited CPM at their community fete ‘Summer Sizzler’ in August 2016, she became passionate about supporting the local charity, volunteering in the centre and supporting their community focused events. Over the past year, it became apparent that CPM needed a new disabled accessible vehicle to add to their fleet to help members of staff get their clients out and about, accessing GP appointments, doing their shopping, going on trips and getting to and from the CPM centre itself. 

 

CPM were successful in getting the £15,000 grant in June this year and then started to look for a suitable vehicle that would benefit the clients and the centre best. Development Officer Sarah Lilly and Centre Manager Gary Watson found a Peugeot Boxer, suitable to seat two wheelchairs at FMC Car Sales in Kidderminster. Since picking up the new van, both the Cerebral Palsy Midlands and The Asda Foundation logo, have been added and now the vehicle is looking very smart. 

 

CPM Picked up the new vehicle Tuesday 15th August and the vehicle was immediately put to use, picking up their first client and passenger Doreen Greenhill, living in Tyseley, Birmingham. Doreen was really pleased we could pick her up in the new accessible van. Direen said: "We are really pleased to have this and I am so pleased to be the first passenger. This will support the staff and the service users." 

 

Development Officer Sarah Lilly said “It made all the difference picking her up in the van with the lift and easy to use clamping system, it felt like Doreen was comfortable when we picked her up and that’s important when we are transporting clients to and from the centre. They need to be safe and secure and comfortable.” 

 

"We have to help the help our disabled community have the necessary access to places they need to get to in the local community, we at Cerebral Palsy Midlands provide that service and help to combat isolation and make a difference to people's lives." 

 

Get in touch: For more information about the event itself please contact Cerebral Palsy Midlands Development Officer, either by email sarah@cpmids.org.uk or telephone 0121 427 3182 (ext. 3).