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There is no central Scottish organisation that collects, stores or redistributes second-hand disabled living equipment, however we can provide details on organisation that may be able to help.
The Disability Equipment Register is a website where people can donate, sell and exchange a variety of equipment. The address is: www.disabreg.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/. It is a non-profit organisation providing a service for disabled people and their families to enable them to buy and sell items of used disability equipment on a direct, one-to-one basis. The Disability Equipment Register has helped many people to do this since 1991. Any contract is between the buyer and the seller.
If the equipment was provided by the NHS then NHS standard policy is to collect and re-use the product once it is no longer needed. Recipients of disabled living equipment through the NHS should contact the department, team or occupational therapist that arranged its delivery. Policy can vary slightly between Local Authority areas.
To locate your local contact go to:
http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/organisations/index.aspx or call NHS Direct on 0845 424 2424.
The Salvation Army can sometimes make use of donated equipment. They have three Scotland offices: North, West and East Scotland. Their contact details are as follows:
The Salvation Army, East Scotland Division: 12a Dryden Road, Loanhead, Edinburgh, EH20 9LZ, 0131 440 9100
The Salvation Army North Scotland Division Deer Road Woodside Aberdeen AB24 2BL, 01224 496000
The Salvation Army, West Scotland Division, 4 Buchanan Court, Cumbernauld Road, Stepps, Glasgow, G33 6HZ, 0141 779 5000
Capability Scotland are occasionally able to take smaller items of disabled equipment, such as adapted phones. You can contact them on: Capability Scotland, Head Office, Westerlea, 11 Ellersly Road, Edinburgh, EH12 6HY, 0131 337 9876
Poppy Scotland will accept donations of electric wheelchairs and scooters. However, they will not accept donations that are more than five years old. Contact them to arrange the donation via www.poppyscotland.org.uk telephone: 0131 557 2782
Equipment can also be donated or sold by advertising in the disability press:
Disability Now: www.disabilitynow.org.uk
Telephone: 020 7619 7336
Able Magazine: www.ablemagazine.com
Telephone: 0141 419 0044
Other useful websites for advertising unwanted disabled equipment:
Your local authority or council may be able to collect and re-use unwanted disabled equipment as well, depending on their ability to uplift and store the equipment. Contact your local authority’s social services department.
If you live in the Lothian area, you can contact the Community Equipment Service on 0131 529 6300 or email: communityequipment@edinburgh.gov.uk. The Community Equipment Service (CES) is a partnership between City of Edinburgh Council, NHS Lothian, East and Midlothian Councils. The aim of the service is to provide equipment that allows people with illness or disabilities to remain living at home.
If you live in the Glasgow area you can donate unwanted fit-for-purpose disabled equipment and living aids to Glasgow City Council’s EquipU service. Telephone: 0845 270 2246 to arrange a pick-up time. However, EuipU are unable to uplift wheelchairs or prosthetics. Glasgow residents should contact NHS Westmarc equipment service instead. For wheelchairs and seating: 0844b 811 3001. For prosthetics: 0141 201 2640.
Stairlifts Scotland are able to uplift and re-use unwanted stairlifts. Depending on the make, model and age of the stairlift, they may be able to collect it free of charge, particularly if they were the contractor. Contact them on: 0141 551 0807 or: sales@sslaccess.co.uk.
Other stairlift suppliers may also be able to collect and reuse unwanted equipment that they have installed and maintained. Stannah stairlifts, for example, may remove stairlifts that they have installed and buy them back, although conditions will apply. Contact Stannah on: 01264 364311.
The Disability Equipment Register is a specialist directory for people wishing to buy, sell or exchange second-hand equipment. Items are advertised in a monthly magazine and on the website. Items for sale can be viewed at no charge, via their web site at www.disabilityequipment.org.uk
To advertise an item for sale or register a subscription, contact the Disability Equipment Register by telephone on 01454 318 818 or email disabreg@blueyonder.co.uk
Disability magazines, such as Disability Now have a section for second hand disability equipment. To view items for sale logon to their web site at www.disabilitynow.org.uk
Another useful website is Equipmentdirect.org.uk which lists a number of web sites for finding second-hand equipment for disabled people. Many of these websites also offer the opportunity to sell equipment you have bought in the past but no longer need. For more information logon to their website at www.equipmentdirect.org.uk
When looking at second-hand goods of any description it is advisable to take a few precautions before you agree to buy. This web site also has a useful section offering advice and things to check for when purchasing second hand equipment.
Some goods and services that are bought specifically for use by a disabled person can be exempt from VAT. Goods and services that are exempt include equipment and appliances designed solely for use by disabled people, building work that adapts a house to be used by a disabled person, installing or adapting goods, medical and surgical appliances, or motor vehicles. The goods are bought without the VAT added on, which means that a written declaration has to be made to the seller that the goods are to be used by a disabled person. Further information can be found in, "Notice 701/7 VAT reliefs for disabled people" which is on the HM Revenue and Customs web site www.hmrc.gov.uk.
They also have a National Advice Services helpline for general enquiries, telephone 0845 010 9000, or contact your local advice agency for more information.