Islanders are being given the chance to declutter their homes and help others in the community with a community equipment return amnesty. The Isle of Wight Council and Isle of Wight NHS Trust are asking residents to return unused crutches, wheelchairs or walking frames to help others in need. The new amnesty is a way to return borrowed items to the community equipment store, ensuring it can be cleaned, refurbished and loaned to residents who desperately require it. Councillor Debbie Andre, Cabinet member for adult social care and housing, has said:
“Many households unknowingly hold onto valuable equipment that could make a life-changing difference for someone else. “This amnesty encourages residents to clear out their storage spaces and contribute to a sustainable cycle of lending and reuse.”
Why return community equipment?
- Give back to the community: Your used equipment can help individuals recovering from surgery, injuries, or chronic conditions regain independence and dignity.
- Reduce waste and save money: Reusing equipment is kinder to the environment and frees up much needed resources for providing new equipment or other vital support services.
- Declutter your home: Let go of unused items and make space for what truly matters.
What equipment can be returned? A wide variety of equipment, including walking frames or sticks; crutches; bath lifts; shower seats, commodes, and toilet surrounds; hospital beds, hoists and bed transfer aids and furniture raisers. How to return equipment: Anyone with equipment which is no longer needed is invited to drop them into the community equipment store at 19 Barry Way, Newport, PO30 5GY. The store is open Monday to Friday, 09:00-15:30. Councillor Andre adds:
“Together, we can make a positive impact by ensuring that our increasingly limited resources are put to good use. Join us in this worthwhile initiative and give the gift of independence to someone who really needs it.”
This is a bit rich.i tried too return crutches at hosp once and was refused! Was never a place too take them neither .Told the cleaning of them would cost too much.
But NOW its ok if WE clean them lol
This ootion should of happened years ago.stop people who try selling them on wightbay or ebay too
They are not asking you to clean them just return them, when returned they will be thoroughly sanitised ready for the use of someone that needs them.
No need for red thumbs lol
I was saying the nhs at time then told me it costs nhs too much too take back and clean themselves so refused….but could of had a place set up too donate! Not that we ourselves have too clean specifically! Obv vommon sense would tell you too clean anyways .You keyboard sadoes are way too quick too diss
I think most of the thumbs down are due to your terrible spelling and grammar.
Now try again but this time try to make sense of what your saying as your clearly not capable of stringing a sentence together.
Doesn’t amnesty imply that people may be prosecuted for keeping them?
No. The word “amnesty” means that someone will not be punished for their crime(s) but there is no implication of the opposite. In addition, given that these items were “borrowed”, the use of the word “amnesty” seems a bit extreme because no crime has been committed.
Charge people a small premium when they borrow the crutches.
Either a monthly direct debit or a refundable deposit of £30.
These people will soon return them.
But the council and NHS would probably take years to return your refund. The refund waiting list would be five years at least.
The skip of equipment outside the equipment store suggested cleaning, repairing and reusing not a usual priority.
I think you will find most zimmer frames and wheelchairs outside the hospice shop at the end of riverway.
Seems where most end up being ‘donated’