Edward Trevor said the stigma attached to using a wheelchair and the fact that Islanders are not used to the charity’s services were holding people back.
The charity, which is based on the lower ground floor of Sand Street car park, lets those who find it difficult to get about use its fleet of powered and manual scooters and wheelchairs.
It has been operating for two months, but was opened officially on Saturday by the Lieut-Governor, Air Chief Marshal Sir John Cheshire.
So far, the service has proved a big hit with tourists, many of whom are well-acquainted with Shopmobility, which has been established in the UK for many years.
A total of 84 people have borrowed wheelchairs and scooters on a ‘casual’ basis and 25 Islanders have joined up to use them regularly as ‘members’.
Of the 84, 80 have been visitors to the Island.
‘We have an Island man who had not been to town for four years and he now comes two or three times a week,’ said Mr Trevor.
He added that several more people had come down to inquire about using the wheelchairs, but had been unsure about their ability to drive them.
