A Paisley charity has launched a crowdfunding appeal to raise more than £41,000 to refurbish the only lift in a community building used by 16 charities and small businesses.
Finding Your Feet, which supports amputees, people born without limbs and their families, is aiming to raise £41,228 to replace the ageing lift at the FYF Charity Hub on St James’ Street.
The four-storey building is home to Finding Your Feet and 15 other organisations, including Barnardo’s, Action for Children, Who Cares? Scotland, Renfrewshire Carers Centre, Home-Start, Migrant Help and With You.
The charity said the lift has reached the end of its working life. A temporary repair is keeping it operating, but engineers have said it now needs a full refurbishment.
The lift provides access to services on the upper floors for wheelchair users, amputees, people with chronic conditions and parents with young children.
Paul, a double above-knee amputee who works at Finding Your Feet and Renfrewshire Carers Centre, said: “I’m a double amputee and I struggle to walk any great distance, and stairs are even more of a challenge. If the lift is out of order, there have been times where I’ve trekked up with my heavy bag and been absolutely knackered for the rest of the day. It really quite harshly affects my day-to-day job. I’ve fortunately not been stuck in it yet, but I’ve seen a few people stuck in it. It’s quite an old lift and it’s just going to get worse from here on out.”
Clare from Home-Start said: “As a family support charity, our families struggle with isolation and mental health issues. Having a reliable lift is vital to offering inclusive access to our service.”
Finding Your Feet has launched its “Lift Us Up” crowdfunder with a target of £41,228.
Dr Cor Hutton MBE BCAc DL, founder of Finding Your Feet and Deputy Lieutenant of Renfrewshire, said: “We have a range of kids and older people coming through this building, but particularly we’re thinking of the amputees and wheelchair users who keep getting stuck in the lift.
“We need a new refurbishment. I wouldn’t want to be stuck in it – we’ve had too many people stuck in it. Can you help us?”
The charity is also inviting local businesses to sponsor the refurbishment, including sponsoring a floor or displaying their logo inside the lift.
Photo: The Finding Your Feet Charity Hub on St James’ Street, Paisley, where a £41,228 fundraising appeal has been launched to refurbish the building’s only lift
Photo Credit: Finding Your Feet
Photo: Paul, a double above-knee amputee who works at Finding Your Feet and Renfrewshire Carers Centre, with Tony Gordon at the FYF Charity Hub in Paisley
Photo Credit: Finding Your Feet
Photo: Nicola at the Finding Your Feet Charity Hub in Paisley, where the charity has launched its “Lift Us Up” appeal to refurbish the building’s ageing lift
Photo Credit: Finding Your Feet