Shopmobility Renfrewshire has picked up an award for the best-performing branch in the UK, the first in Scotland to do so.

Named after the charity's founder, the Tom Hillier Award is given out each year to the Shopmobility branch which receives the highest appraisal ratings from users.

Shopmobility specialise in providing free and low-cost hire of mobility scooters and wheelchairs, as well as offering repairs and working with government bodies to improve public accessibility.

Tommy Higgins, who volunteers at Shopmobility Renfrewshire’s Paisley branch, went down to the ceremony in Birmingham to receive the award.

“It’s a great achievement, being the first Shopmobility in Scotland to win it,” said Tommy. “It’s great for all the staff and volunteers to be recognised for everything they do.”

Tommy, who uses a mobility scooter himself, praised the impact that the charity’s work has on people’s lives.

“I went into a scooter a couple of years ago,” said Tommy. “I didn’t really want to go down that road, but I had to because of my health.

“It does make a big difference, having a scooter to get around, being able to have a bit of freedom to get out. I know that, because I’ve experienced it.

“Shopping is a big problem for people. Or the recent Sma’ Shot Day for instance - it was great seeing people being able to follow it along on a mobility scooter that they got from us.

“There’s various things like that. These are things that they wouldn’t be able to do otherwise. And it makes such a difference.”

Tommy at the ceremony in BirminghamTommy at the ceremony in Birmingham (Image: Supplied)

Tommy encouraged anyone in need to make use of the charity’s services.

“Anyone with a mobility scooter or a wheelchair that needs repairs, they can bring it in to us, and we’ll fix it for only a donation. I’ve known places where, if you take your mobility scooter in for repairs, it costs £35 just for them to even look at it.

“You can also hire a mobility scooter for the day for free. If you want to take it overnight, there’s a small fee of £5, or £1 overnight for a wheelchair. It’s very reasonable. We do realise how much everybody is struggling, so every bit helps.”

Tommy, who spent 27 years as a driving instructor and instructor trainer, now uses his expertise of the road to conduct surveys on how towns can be made safer and more accessible for people with reduced mobility.

“We work with people who have trouble getting from A to B, because there aren’t any dropped curbs for their mobility scooter or wheelchair,” he said.

“We carry out a survey and send it to Renfrewshire Council, who then take it onboard and make changes.

“We did a survey recently over at Todholm, regarding a journey that a woman makes everyday taking her kids to school. If the council implements our recommendations for dropped curbs, it will cut a whole mile off her journey.

“That’s a hell of a distance to chop off someone’s journey going back and forth to school every day.”

More information is available at: https://www.shopmobilityrenfrewshire.org.uk/.