Inverness Culloden Rotary Club seeking more space for wheelchair project
HUNDREDS of old wheelchairs destined for the scrap heap are being recycled for use in other countries in a new venture involving Inverness rotarians and prisoners.
The project is led by Inverness Culloden Rotary Club which has arranged with NHS Highland to collect its discarded wheelchairs which are then refurbished at the city’s prison.
Once restored, they will be shipped abroad for use in places such as Africa, India and Europe.
The club is now appealing for anyone with storage space such as a barn or shed in the Inverness area where the discarded and refurbished wheelchairs can be kept until there are sufficient numbers for collection.
Rotarian Derek McRae explained the club became involved in the project through a Yorkshire charity, Physionet.
He anticipated it will run for up to four years during which time NHS Highland will replace 3800 wheelchairs.
Many will go landfill but it is hoped about 50 can be refurbished each month.
“It is giving the wheelchairs a new lease of life and it will make a huge difference to the lives of people who receive them,” he said.
The Army Reserve Centre in Gordonville Road is storing the wheelchairs but this may not be a long-term arrangement so anyone with unused space – ideally 50 square metres or more – should contact the club.
Alan Coyne, head of offender outcomes at Inverness Prison, said the prisoners involved gained basic skills which could help them on release.
“Employability is a major factor in stopping re-offending so by carrying out this work we pay back the community and improve employment chances for ex-prisoners,” he said.
