Mobility Advice Line
Mobility Advice Line (MAL for short) started in 1994 at Andy Whyment’s home. Andy was an ex-policeman who became a wheelchair user and found it quite difficult to gather information on all aspects of motoring, access, adaptations, etc., so he decided to set up MAL.
Andy sadly passed away in 1996, and his wife carried MAL on for a short while. Mrs Whyment found it difficult to keep the charity going so at the end of 1996 MAL was brought into it’s present home at West Midlands Rehabilitation Centre. Bringing MAL here meant that we had the resources at hand thanks to the Information Service on Disability.
At the beginning of 1998, a full-time worker (also a wheelchair user) started working here. However, he found it very difficult to travel to Selly Oak, particularly in winter months, so unfortunately, he had to leave us. We were then taken on board by another wheelchair user who was already running another charity, and MAL survived again for a while, but she had to give it up when it was found to be too much work running two charities.
In August 2005, Mobility Advice Line survived again when Brynn Tudor accepted the offer to run it when he was asked. Brynn was involved with Disability Access Charter (the charity Mobility Advice Line was part of). Brynn, along with David, Janet, and James, kept the Mobility Advice Line alive once again. Unfortunately, Janet had to leave us in early 2006 due to work commitments with her day job as a Tutor. We have since been joined by Mr Stephen Mark Barchan B.Mus (Hons) Pgcert, Mr Niall Tomlinson B.Sc and Mr Lee Carter. Mr C M Launchbury who will be our accountant also will join us.
Brynn has a long history with charity work and wishes to see Mobility Advice Line growing stronger and for us all to see M.A.L celebrate its next milestone of 20 years. September 2006 sees us celebrating our Tenth Anniversary.
Mobility Advice Line is committed to providing help to Disabled people, their families, carers and friends. This can be advice, signposting or just simply someone to chat to. Our aim is to help alleviate people with a disability their carers, family and friends by provisions of advice via a telephone and email advice service. Whatever the question is, Mobility Advice Line will try and help you with it, and if they can’t, they will know someone who may. We receive calls on all range of questions from: Welfare Benefits, Blue Badge Scheme, Motability Allowance, Wheelchair and Electric Scooter hire, home adaptations, driving schools for the Disabled. We also sell RADAR Keys (Keys for Disabled Public Toilets). Also we take calls on tax for those who receive Disability Living Allowance. For E.G. Miss MAL calls to enquire how she can go about getting a Blue Badge for her car. Mr Oak calls as he wishes to know if he is entitled to further welfare benefits now he is 65 and disabled. Mr & Mrs Tree call as Mrs Tree has just become dependant on a wheelchair after a car accident and they wish to know how they can go about claiming a grant to help cover the cost of having their home converted to wheelchair friendly.
The area we cover is West Midlands but we do take calls from other areas such as The South of England (Bournemouth), London (Surrey) and others due to Mobility Advice Line being the nearest organisation and the only organisation that offers this type of free service. Our main telephonist/advisor is Mrs V Lee who has been with Mobility Advice Line for eight years and is helped by Mr Brynn Tudor who is ex Citizens Advice Bureau trained.
We are currently holding events such as: Sponsored Wheelchair Ride, Sponsored Walk, and a 1920’s Speakeasy evening. The first of these will be held on Saturday 16th September which will be our sponsored Wheelchair ride and Sponsored walk
Mobility Advice Line also requires volunteers to become Trustees and committee members.
If you would like further information or you would like to become involved in Mobility Advice Line please get in touch with Brynn Tudor on: 0121 414 1415 or by emailing him: brynn@mobility-advice.org.uk
