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History of the Cornwall Mobility Centre

The Cornwall Mobility Centre, serving the South West Peninsula, was set up in 1987 at the Tehidy Hospital Site, in Camborne. In 1994 the Centre was relocated to the Royal Cornwall Hospital campus, where it is accommodated in the first purpose built unit of its kind in the United Kingdom.

Initially, the Centre's main objective was to provide driving assessment services. Over the years, owing to a number of grants and fundraising efforts and the continued hard work of the Trustees, the Friends and staff, the Centre has expanded to encompass a wider range of services and equipment.

The Centre was financed from charitable fundraising and two generous grants, firstly from the National Lottery Charities Board and recently from the renamed "Community Fund". Further funding was also received from the Community Fund and from the South West of England Regional Development Agency for a purpose built workshop to accommodate both wheelchair repairs and servicing and the car adaptations garage.

Mrs Jeanne Nicholls, MBE, was largely instrumental in raising firstly revenue funds to enable the work to be started and secondly, for the Capital Fundraising. Without the wonderful support of Mrs Nicholls, it is fair to say that this Centre of excellence would not now be here.

Mrs Meinwen Marsh MBE joined the Centre in March 1989, originally as a part-time Administrator and Volunteer. Upon relocation of the Centre to its current site she was appointed as the Chief Executive. A great part of her days and evenings was dedicated to the Centre in a voluntary capacity. For this work Meinwen was awarded the MBE. She was also awarded the National Award for "Excellence of Services and Supplies to people with disabilities". The award for the "Best Mobility Centre in Britain" was due to her leadership, expertise and dedication to the Centre, staff and clients.

The Centre's Paediatric Department, opened last year, was dedicated to her memory.

The Cornwall Mobility Centre is a member of the Forum of Mobility Centres; an accredited network of organisations whose primary aim is to help all people who are less able achieve independent mobility.

The Centre is a Registered Charity and a non-profit making organisation, therefore fees are heavily subsidised by charitable donations and fundraising efforts.

The Centre is Motability accredited, an accredited DSC Voucher Centre, a member of the Disabled Living Centre Council, and DVLA accredited to conduct driver assessments.

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