City council officers have recommended that the funding allocated to Shopmobility each year be stopped. This would mean the closure and loss of the service. Those of you who have used the service will know how vitally important it is. City Shopmobility plays such an important part in the lives of so many people and it is vital that we all do whatever we can to preserve it.

Contact your local Councillor, lobby members of the Cabinet, write to the local newspapers, do whatever it takes to protect the service. You can also write or email your support to Shopmobility or to us direct. The more support received the better our chances of keeping the service.

PLEASE REMEMBER, ONCE THE SERVICE IS LOST IT WILL BE LOST FOREVER.

Our next open meeting is to be held on Monday July 26th 2010 at the Rose Road Association's Bradbury Centre, 300 Aldermoor Road. Southampton. The time is 11:00am until 1:00pm and refreshments will be available.

Anyone with an interest or concern around access issues, whether you are an individual or part of an organisation/voluntary group, you are most welcome to attend. For more details about SAFA or the meeting contact Brian or Maggie on 023 / 8036 6657 or by email at: Bchap97@aol.com.

Refreshments will also be available.

During 2009 we carried out another round of audits of Southampton city centre shops to add to our on-line Access Guide. In total we audited a further 142 shops in the City Centre. The Guide now has over 300 shops and over 130 Southampton City Council public services listed.

It is hoped that we can extend the guide into other areas such as Shirley, Porstwood and Bitterne in the near future if the necessary funding can be found.

Our aim is to make the Access Guide as comprehensive as possible for both residents and visitors of Southampton.

Are you a member of a local group where access issues affect your members. Perhaps some of your members can't get into their local Bank or shops.Perhaps there are not enough dropped kerbs in your local area or a lack of pedestrian crossings.We cover a whole range of access issues and have achieved many successes in and around Southampton.

If you think that our work would interest your members we would be happy come to one of your meetings and talk to your members about their rights under the Disability Discrimination Act 2004 and listen to their concerns.

It's worth noting that we do not make a charge for coming to your meetings, all we need is for the venue to be accessible.

For more information just call 023 / 8036 6657 between 9:00am and 5:00pm or email Bchap97@aol.com.