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Delivering care and cutting carbon

Published
Gloucestershire County Council has launched a new fleet of ten electric vehicles to help Gloucestershire Equipment Loan Service provide equipment to help adults with care and support needs to stay safe at home.
Colleagues next to a new electric van

These new more environmentally friendly vehicles will help the council to meet its net zero targets and make cost savings at the same time.

Gloucestershire Equipment Loan Service (GELS) lends free equipment to people for as long as they need it, for example, after a hospital visit or to maintain their independence. Equipment ranges from hospital grade beds and wheelchairs to crutches and perching stools.

Each month, Gloucestershire residents return around £500,000 worth of equipment, freeing up council funding to help more people get back on their feet. However, the county council thinks there could be even more equipment and daily living aids in people’s homes that aren’t being used, and sometimes people don’t know that it needs to be returned, or how to arrange this.

The new eco-friendly vans livery is designed to remind residents that GELS will collect loaned equipment which people no longer need and provides ways to get in touch.

Residents are advised not to buy community equipment from social media forums or charity shops. All items are provided by GELS free of charge to people who need them, for as long as they need them. GELS also ensure all returned items are cleaned and fully refurbished before being loaned to anyone else, and anything damaged beyond repair is recycled.

Cllr Dr Kate Usmar, cabinet member for adults’ support and independence at Gloucestershire County Council said, “It is really easy to return equipment you no longer need. There are loads of drop-off points across the county, including libraries and council offices. Or GELS can come to you, Monday to Friday between 9 and 5,  just call to arrange a collection.

“Your equipment can make an enormous difference. By returning things you're not using any more, you're helping the Gloucestershire Equipment Loan Service to help others stay as independent as possible, for as long as possible.”

GELS equipment can be easily identified as each item has a ProCloud, Gloucestershire County Council, or GELS barcode sticker. Residents can return equipment at multiple locations around the county, or they can arrange a free collection from their home.

Call 01452 520438 or fill out a short form on the council’s website: 
www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/return-equipment

Drop-off locations:

Any equipment can be returned to GELS Hempsted and Mitcheldean sites within working hours (8.30am until 4.30pm).

Smaller pieces of equipment like walking sticks, walking frames and crutches can also be dropped off at libraries and county council offices across the county:

Libraries:

Charlton Kings, Cheltenham, Chipping Campden, Cinderford, Coleford, Dursley, Fairford, Gloucester, Hesters Way, Hucclecote, Longlevens, Lydney, Moreton in Marsh, Newent, Prestbury, Quedgeley, Tewkesbury, Tuffley, Up Hatherley, Winchcombe and Wotton under Edge.

County council offices:

• Shire Hall Members Car Park, Westgate Street, Gloucester, GL1 2TG.

• Forest Locality Office, Dean House, Station Street, Cinderford, GL14 2JF.

• Stroud Locality Office, Redwood House, Beeches Green, Stroud, GL5 4AE.

• Cotswold Locality Office, The Old School, 47 Lewis Lane, Cirencester, GL7 1EB.

Find out more about the Gloucestershire Equipment Loan Service at www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/gloucestershire-equipment-loan-service