Unique Clydebank social enterprise recognised by MSPs following Gil Paterson visit

​A SOCIAL enterprise recycling mobility gear in Clydebank has been commended by the town’s Member of the Scottish Parliament.

Gil Paterson visited Recycle Mobility Centre in the Market Village in the town centre on Friday September 23 and met Elaine Williamson, the founder.

Ms Williamson told the Clydebank and Milngavie MSP about the recent achievements the social enterprise has made, and how it is the only company of its kind in Scotland.

Due to its inventive approach at helping the community, Recycle Mobility Centre won the Innovation Award 2016 from the Community Resource Network Scotland.

The community-oriented company takes in broken, disused or unwanted mobility gear, like scooters, and has its engineers repair them to working order. They are then sold on at a very affordable price to the people who need them the most.

Recycle Mobility Centre also offers a qualification to those interested in becoming engineers.

Mr Paterson, an SNP MSP, said: “What Recycle Mobility Centre is doing in Clydebank is phenomenal, and is really helping people with mobility issues who cannot afford the brand new equipment. There are many people struggling to make ends meet who will benefit from what Elaine and her team are doing.

“I would like to commend the hard work done by the team at Recycle Mobility Centre, and will be acknowledging effort and results in a parliamentary motion.”

Elaine Williamson, founder of Recycle Mobility Centre, said: “West Dunbartonshire has a vast number of people on disability benefits, and is one of the areas that are most in need of mobility equipment at an affordable price. What we do is very often a lifeline for our customers.

“I would like to thank Gil Paterson for his visit, and for recognising the work we have done here in a motion to the Scottish Parliament.”

The MSP is set to recognise Recycle Mobility Centre in a parliamentary motion, which will inform the parliament, MSPs and government of the good work being done by Elaine and her team.

Motion text:
That the Parliament commends the work of the Recycle Mobility Centre in Clydebank; notes that it repairs and refurbishes old, disused or unwanted mobility equipment, such as scooters, and sells them on at an affordable price, as well as offering training and a qualification in engineering; considers that it has seen considerable success since it was founded in March 2014 by Elaine Williamson and is the only social enterprise of its kind in Scotland; congratulates it on winning the Innovation Award 2016 from Community Resource Network Scotland, and welcomes its goals to improve the quality of life of disabled and older people, provide jobs and volunteering opportunities and reduce waste to landfill.