Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has visited Mobility Lisburn to highlight a near-fourfold increase in funding for the service, which has enabled the charity to transform a derelict building into a new community hub while supporting over 2,000 equipment loans annually to people with reduced mobility.
The Minister toured the organisation’s Market Square premises on 1 May 2026, meeting with board members and volunteers to discuss how funding rose from £13,000 in 2024/25 to £50,000 in 2025/26. This boost allowed Mobility Lisburn to establish a new hub that provides wheelchairs, scooters, rollators and walking sticks to help people maintain independence and access their community.
From Derelict Building to Community Hub
The increased allocation forms part of the Department for Infrastructure’s broader commitment to fully fund community transport and Shopmobility schemes across Northern Ireland. Mobility Lisburn now operates across three sites—Bow Street Mall, Sprucefield Shopping Centre, and The Hub on Market Square—offering short-term, medium-term and longer-term equipment loans.
During her visit, Minister Kimmins emphasised the wider social impact of the service beyond the individual user. She said:
“Mobility Lisburn provides a valuable service for those individuals who rely on mobility equipment to maintain their independence and to connect with family and friends in their community and to access goods and services. Those families, friends and carers also feel the impact when someone is supported to remain active, engaged and less isolated. That wider community value really matters.
“Last year I was pleased to be able to increase Mobility Lisburn’s funding from £13K in 2024/25 to £50K in 2025/26 reflecting my decision to prioritise full funding of the community transport sector. This funding increase has allowed Mobility Lisburn to make significant enhancements to their operations with the establishment of this new mobility hub which has also turned a derelict building into a valuable community asset.
“Through the dedication of the members and volunteers the service goes from strength to strength and last year facilitated over 2,250 loans of mobility aids across its three sites.
“Without these services vulnerable groups in our communities would find it difficult to access goods and services and to connect with friends and family.
“’Including People’ is one of my Department’s seven ‘Foundations for a Better Future’ and working with Shopmobility, amongst others, represents our commitment to improving the inclusiveness of our society and putting people at the heart of everything we do.”
Charity Leadership Response
Tim Honeyford, Chair of Mobility Lisburn and a founding member of the charity 25 years ago, welcomed the Minister’s visit and acknowledged the impact of the budget decision. He said:
“As Chair of Mobility Lisburn and a founding member 25 years ago, I am proud of the charity’s continued growth and the vital services it provides to people with physical disabilities in our community. It is encouraging to see increased recognition of the important role we play in supporting independence and inclusion.
“I extend my sincere thanks to Minister Kimmins for her decision in last year’s budget to increase funding, which has enabled us to progress our objectives, including working in partnership with other organisations to develop a shared community space for our service users and their family, friends and carers.
“I also wish to acknowledge the dedication and vision of our manager, Chanel McKinstry, whose leadership continues to drive the organisation forward.”
Broader Context and Unanswered Questions
Mobility Lisburn is one of 13 Shopmobility schemes currently receiving grant funding from the Department for Infrastructure through the Transport Programme for People with Disabilities (TPPD). These schemes aim to provide the “vital final link in the accessible transport chain” for individuals who cannot use conventional public transport due to disability, illness, or recovery from surgery.
While the funding increase represents a significant proportional boost for this particular scheme, the announcement raises several considerations about sustainability and equity across the sector:
- The Department has not disclosed whether all 13 Shopmobility schemes received similar proportional increases, or if Mobility Lisburn’s expansion reflects a particular concentration of need in the Lisburn area.
- With 2,250 loans facilitated last year across just three sites, the per-loan subsidy appears minimal even with the increased funding, suggesting the service relies heavily on volunteer labour to remain viable—yet the press release offers no details about volunteer numbers, training, or retention challenges.
- The mention of developing a “shared community space” through partnership with other organisations hints at innovative service integration, but lacks specifics about which partners are involved, the timeline, or whether this model might be replicated elsewhere.
- While the Minister references the “Foundations for a Better Future” framework, there is no indication whether this funding level is guaranteed beyond 2025/26, leaving questions about long-term planning for the charity’s new hub and expanded operations.
Questions for Stakeholders
- Will the Department publish comparative funding data for all 13 Shopmobility schemes to demonstrate equitable distribution of resources across urban and rural areas?
- How does the Department intend to measure the social return on investment for these schemes beyond loan numbers, particularly regarding reduced isolation and improved mental health outcomes?
- What safeguards exist to ensure that future budget pressures do not reverse these gains, given the historical volatility of community transport funding?
- Can the partnership model mentioned for the shared community space be expanded to integrate with health and social care services, potentially reducing pressure on statutory services?
- Given the transformation of a derelict building into a community asset, should the Department consider capital funding streams for similar infrastructure improvements at other Shopmobility locations?
The visit underscores the Department’s current prioritisation of accessible transport and social inclusion, yet the long-term resilience of these services will depend on whether this funding represents a sustained commitment or a temporary uplift in a challenging fiscal environment.