Local Services & Community Directory

Navigating the local health and social care system can feel overwhelming — particularly when you are dealing with it for the first time, under pressure, often on behalf of someone else.

One of the things we hear most often from families across Whitchurch, Wem, and the surrounding villages is that the services they most needed were the ones they never knew existed until much too late. The community transport that would have kept a parent connected to town. The dementia support group meeting every fortnight in a hall around the corner. The day centre that turned out to be the highlight of someone's week.

Most of these services do not advertise loudly. They rely on word of mouth, GP referrals, and the occasional noticeboard. That is not good enough for the people who need them.

This page is our attempt to change that — at least for the people and families we serve across North Shropshire. We have researched and compiled every locally relevant service, group, and resource we can find, and we will update it as things change.

If you know of something we have missed, please tell us. Call us on 01948 411222 or email mail@nshomecare.co.uk and we will add it.

In an Emergency

999 — Police, fire, ambulance. Life-threatening emergencies only.

NHS 111 — Free, 24-hour service for urgent medical concerns that cannot wait for a GP appointment but are not a 999 emergency. Also provides out-of-hours pharmacy information and can dispatch a clinician where needed. Dial 111.

Shropshire Council Emergency Duty Team — Out-of-hours social care and safeguarding emergencies that cannot wait until the morning. Contact via 0345 678 9044 and follow the out-of-hours options.

Adult Safeguarding — Shropshire Council — If you have concerns that an older or vulnerable person is being abused, neglected, or exploited, report it immediately. Tel: 0345 678 9044. This is a legal and moral duty and should never be deferred.

Medical Services in Whitchurch and Wem

GP Surgeries

Whitchurch Medical Practice The main GP surgery for Whitchurch and surrounding villages. Tel: 01948 662028

Wem Medical Practice Tel: 01939 234200

Shropdoc — Out-of-Hours GP Service For urgent medical advice when your surgery is closed, access via NHS 111. Shropdoc provides Shropshire's out-of-hours GP cover and can arrange emergency appointments or home visits where clinically necessary.

Hospitals

Whitchurch Community Hospital Alport Road, Whitchurch, SY13 1NT Community inpatient care, outpatient clinics, physiotherapy, podiatry, and community health services. The Bradbury Care Centre is situated on the same site — see day care section below. Tel: 01948 665011

Royal Shrewsbury Hospital The main acute NHS hospital for the region. Accident and emergency, specialist services, inpatient care. Tel: 01743 261000

Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital (RJAH), Gobowen Specialist orthopaedic centre covering the region. Tel: 01691 404000

Pharmacies

Green End Pharmacy, Whitchurch Located close to our office. Prescription dispensing, medication advice, and home delivery service for eligible patients. Tel: 01948 662219

Most pharmacies in the area offer a Medicines Use Review service and a New Medicine Service — both free and worth using when a new medication has been prescribed. The pharmacist at Green End is an underused resource for medication questions that do not require a GP appointment.

Wem Pharmacy Tel: 01939 232233

Specialist NHS Services

Dementia Assessment and Support Service (DASS) — Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Specialist assessment and ongoing support for people showing signs of dementia or who have already received a diagnosis. Works across Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin. Referral via GP. mpft.nhs.uk/services/dementia-assessment-and-support-service-dass

Shropshire Admiral Nurses A team of specialist dementia nurses providing life-changing support to family carers of people with dementia. The service does not provide direct care to the person with dementia — it supports the families and carers around them with practical advice, emotional support, and access to other services. Available to carers of people registered with a Shropshire GP. Referral via GP or other healthcare professional. shropscommunityhealth.nhs.uk/dementia

Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service (NEPTS) NHS transport for patients whose medical condition prevents them using standard transport to hospital appointments. Ask your GP or hospital department whether you qualify.

Healthwatch Shropshire Independent local champion that can help signpost you to specific health and social care services, patient transport, and advocacy groups within Shropshire. Particularly useful if you are trying to navigate the system and are not sure who to contact. Tel: 01743 237884 healthwatchshropshire.co.uk

Social Care & Support

Shropshire Council Adult Social Care — First Point of Contact The starting point for care needs assessments, financial assessments, and council-funded care packages. If you think you or a relative may be eligible for help with care costs, this is the first call to make. Tel: 0345 678 9044 next.shropshire.gov.uk/adult-social-care

Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin A local independent charity — separate from the national Age UK — that has been supporting older people in Shropshire for over 75 years. Services include:

• Free information and advice on benefits, social care, housing, and legal issues

• Befriending service — volunteers visiting isolated older people at home or providing regular telephone friendship

• Help at Home — assistance with shopping, cleaning, and domestic tasks

• Day centres including the Whitchurch Day Centre (see below)

• Home from hospital support

• Benefits advice — can help you claim Attendance Allowance, Pension Credit, and other entitlements you may not know you are eligible for

Tel: 01743 233123 ageuk.org.uk/shropshireandtelford

Shropshire Carers Support Team Dedicated support for unpaid family carers. Offers Carer's Assessments, emergency planning, access to respite, support groups, and help navigating financial entitlements including Carer's Allowance. Also runs the Whitchurch Peer Carers Group for dementia carers (see dementia section below). Tel: 01743 341995 Email: shropshire.carers@shropshire.gov.uk next.shropshire.gov.uk/adult-social-care/schemes-and-teams/shropshire-carers

Crossroads Together Charity providing practical support and information to unpaid carers across the region — including information on respite, emotional support, and carer wellbeing. Tel: 0300 323 0260 crossroads-together.org.uk

Mobilise An online support community specifically for family carers, providing virtual social groups ("virtual cuppas"), expert advice, and a community of people who understand the challenges of caring. Free to join, accessible from home. mobiliseonline.co.uk

Omega — Telephone & Penpal Befriending A charity helping isolated older people stay connected. Offers Chatterbox, a free telephone befriending service, and Letterbox, a free penpal service. Prioritises people who are struggling without a support network around them. Tel: 0800 434 6105 omegauk.org

A4U (Ability4U) Shropshire A disabled persons-led organisation providing support to people with disabilities and long-term conditions, their families and carers. Helps with understanding options, making informed decisions, and supporting independent living. a4u.org.uk

Transport & Getting Around

For many people in North Shropshire, transport is not a convenience — it is the mechanism by which they remain connected to their community. The services below are the real, practical answers to the question of what happens when driving is no longer possible.

North Salop Wheelers Community Bus A volunteer-run, not-for-profit community bus service — one of the most valuable and underused resources in the area. Provides regular routes connecting rural villages to Whitchurch and Wem, picking up passengers as close to their doors as possible.

Key routes relevant to NSHC's operating area:

• Friday Whitchurch service: departs Wem approximately 8:30am, calling at Whixall, Coton, Tilstock, Prees, and Millenheath. A second Friday route runs via Fauls Green, Bletchley, Calverhall, Ightfield, Ash, and Broughall.

• Thursday and Wednesday services also available for other towns.

• Cost: approximately 45p per mile, calculated from the point of driver departure.

• Individual hospital and GP appointment journeys can also be arranged.

northsalopwheelers.co.uk

Note: North Salop Wheelers relies entirely on volunteers. A dwindling pool of drivers is threatening its longer-term survival. If you can drive and have a few hours to spare, becoming a Wheelers volunteer is one of the most directly impactful things a local resident can do.

Shropshire Community Car Service NHS-supported volunteer driver service for individual journeys to hospital, GP, and healthcare appointments. Based in Whitchurch, Wem, and Market Drayton. Tel: 01743 255613

Shropshire Community Transport Consortium Accessible minibuses and cars providing door-to-door transport for people who have no access to public transport or find it too difficult. Covers rural villages around Wem and Whitchurch weekly. Tel: 0777 296 4517 Email: info@shropshirecommunitytransport.org.uk shropshirecommunitytransport.org.uk

Shropshire Council Community Transport Directory Full listing of all community transport options across the county. next.shropshire.gov.uk/public-transport/community-transport

Shropshire Blue Badge Scheme Parking concessions for individuals with severe mobility impairments. Applications through Shropshire Council. We can help guide you through the application process if needed. next.shropshire.gov.uk/parking/blue-badge

Day Centres & Social Meeting Places

Whitchurch

Age UK Whitchurch Day Centre Located at Kingsway Court, Whitchurch SY13 1DQ. Meets every Tuesday from 10:00am to 2:00pm, offering older people a warm, friendly space to meet friends, enjoy a hot two-course lunch, and take part in activities including cards and games, crafts, gentle exercise to music, and quizzes. Transport available in some cases by car or adapted minibus. Tel: 01743 233123 ageuk.org.uk/shropshireandtelford/our-services/day-centre-whitchurch

Bradbury Care Centre Located next door to Whitchurch Community Hospital, Claypit Street, Whitchurch SY13 1NT. A day service for older people, people with disabilities, and those with physical and mental frailty. Services include hairdressing, chiropodist, bathing assistance, and a range of daily activities. Also offers short-term respite in newly refurbished en-suite rooms with no minimum stay. bradburycarecentre.co.uk

Whitchurch Senior Citizens Club Founded in 1975. Located at Pearl Yard, Green End, Whitchurch SY13 1AQ. Offers whist drives every Monday and Saturday from 1pm, a fortnightly bingo club on Wednesdays, coffee mornings every Tuesday and Friday from 10am to noon, and a monthly table top sale. Also hosts a monthly lunch club and allows other organisations to use the hall, including the Hearing Support Group. Open to members and non-members. Small weekly charge. whitchurchseniorcitizensclub.xyz

Wem

Wem Senior Club A welcoming meeting place for everyone aged 55 and over in Wem and the surrounding area. Based at Chapel Street, Wem. Open most days with a variety of social activities. Known locally as one of the friendliest clubs in the area — well worth a visit if you have a relative in Wem who is becoming isolated.

Dementia-Specific Groups and Support

Time Together — Whitchurch Meets at Bargates Hall, next to St Alkmund's Church, Whitchurch, on the first and third Wednesday of each month from 2pm to 4pm. Run by Churches Together in Whitchurch in partnership with Age UK. Open to people living with memory loss or dementia and their families or carers. Different activities each week, lots of laughter, good food. No charge — donations welcome.

Whitchurch Peer Carers Group — for Dementia Carers Meets monthly at Bradbury Day Centre, Whitchurch SY13 1NT, from 2pm to 3:30pm. Specifically for unpaid carers of any adult with dementia. Provides space to meet, chat, and share information in a relaxed and supportive setting. Free to attend. Monthly dates run throughout the year. Contact: Shropshire Carers Support Team — Tel: 01743 341995 | shropshire.carers@shropshire.gov.uk

Wem Alzheimer's Society Carers Group Meets on the third Thursday of every month, alternating between the Castle Hotel, 14 High Street, Wem (carers only) and the Methodist Church Hall, Aston Street, Wem (for carers and the person they care for if wished). Contact Alzheimer's Society Shropshire: Tel: 01952 250392 | shropshire@alzheimers.org.uk

Alzheimer's Society Shropshire The national society's local team provides dementia support workers who offer personalised one-to-one support — through home visits, telephone, or video call — to help people with dementia remain in their homes. Also provides monthly peer support groups and Singing for the Brain sessions. Peer support groups run at the Fire Station in Whitchurch and other venues across the county. Tel: 0333 150 3456 alzheimers.org.uk

Shropshire Admiral Nurses — Dementia Carer Support A team of specialist dementia nurses who provide expert support exclusively to family carers. Referral via your GP or other NHS professional. Available to all carers of people with dementia registered with a Shropshire GP. shropscommunityhealth.nhs.uk/dementia

Singing for the Brain — Shropshire Based on the Alzheimer's Society's music therapy programme, Singing for the Brain brings people together in a friendly, social environment. Sessions run at Greenfields Care Home in Whitchurch and other venues across Shropshire. Welcoming to community attendees as well as residents. Contact Alzheimer's Society Shropshire: 01952 250392

Whitchurch Library — Time Together and Dementia-Friendly Services All Shropshire Council library staff are trained Dementia Friends. The library holds Reading Well collections for dementia and offers a range of loanable items designed for those with memory loss and their supporters. Time Together holds regular awareness sessions in the library. The library also operates a Home Library Service — delivering books, large print titles, and audiobooks to people who cannot visit in person due to mobility issues. Email: whitchurch.library@shropshire.gov.uk next.shropshire.gov.uk/libraries/find-a-library/whitchurch-library

Leisure, Fitness & Wellbeing

Whitchurch Swimming and Fitness Centre Opened March 2025. Located at White Lion Meadow, Whitchurch SY13 1FT. Features a six-lane 25m pool with a moveable floor allowing varied depth, a pool pod for wheelchair access, easy-access steps, accessible changing rooms, and a 41-station fitness suite. The pool's colours were specifically designed to help partially-sighted people navigate the building. Managed by Shropshire Community Leisure Trust. shropshireleisurecentres.com/whitchurch-swimming-fitness-centre

Chester Road Bowling Club, Whitchurch Crown green bowls, open to all ages and abilities. Free tuition and loan bowls for beginners. Coach available most Monday afternoons from 1:30pm. Season runs April to September. Bowls is one of the most sociable and accessible outdoor sports for older adults — low impact, outdoors, and deeply embedded in local community life. chesterroadbowlingclub.org.uk

Whitchurch Walkers A group for local people interested in walking and protecting public footpaths and rights of way across the area. Regular walks across the North Shropshire countryside. Welcoming to newcomers and suitable for a range of abilities. whitchurchwalkers.co.uk

Whitchurch U3A — University of the Third Age Over 30 active groups covering a wide range of educational and recreational activities, including a Walking and Lunch Club meeting on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month (departing Sherrymill Hill Car Park at 9:30am), bridge, arts and crafts, local history, film appreciation, and much more. Annual subscription currently £12, which covers all group memberships. Open to anyone no longer in full-time employment. u3asites.org.uk/whitchurch

Whitchurch WI (Women's Institute) Meets on the second Monday of the month at 7:30pm at Whitchurch Senior Citizens Club, Pearl Yard, Green End, Whitchurch SY13 1AQ. shropshire.thewi.org.uk/find-wi/whitchurch

Jubilee Park, Whitchurch A free, accessible green space in the town centre — valuable for gentle walks, fresh air, and the kind of unhurried outdoor time that carers and clients alike benefit from. Part of Shropshire Council's active travel plans, with improved paths and a potential mobility hub planned.

Whitchurch Choral Society Long-established community choir open to all abilities. Music and singing are consistently shown to benefit mental health and wellbeing in older adults — and this is one of the area's best community musical organisations.

Here are the updated listings with their respective website URLs included, formatted clearly for your "Local Services & Community Directory" page:

LGBTQ+ Support & Community Groups

Local North Shropshire & County Support

SAND (Safe Ageing No Discrimination) Shropshire: SAND's legacy project is a vital community resource dedicated to improving the experiences of older LGBT+ people as they age in Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin. Their website offers excellent guidance and connects older adults to local inclusive services. They also host Shropshire Senior Rainbow Friends, a welcoming monthly social group in Shrewsbury for older LGBT+ individuals to meet, chat, and share.

Website:www.lgbtsand.com

National Companionship & Helplines

Re-engage (Rainbow Call Companions): Re-engage offers a specific "rainbow call companions" service, providing free, regular telephone calls to older, lonely, or isolated LGBT+ people (aged 75+) who want a friendly chat with a volunteer who also identifies as LGBT+.

Website:reengage.org.uk

Switchboard LGBT+ Helpline: A free, national support line available every day from 10am to 10pm. All volunteers self-define as LGBT+ and provide a safe, confidential space to discuss everything from relationships to general mental health and wellbeing.

Website:switchboard.lgbt

LGBT Foundation Helpline: This national foundation runs a dedicated helpline offering emotional support, advice, and signposting to further services. They operate extended hours during the week (9am-8:30pm) and over the weekends (10am-5:30pm).

Website:lgbt.foundation

Home Safety & Practical Support

Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service — Safe and Well Visits Free home safety visits for elderly and vulnerable adults. Fire service staff will check smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, offer fire prevention advice, assess trip hazards, and — if needed — connect you with other community services. One of the most genuinely useful free services available, and one of the least used. Tel: 01743 260260 shropshirefire.gov.uk

Shropshire Council Community Equipment Services For clinical equipment — hoists, hospital beds, pressure mattresses, commodes — and larger home adaptations. Access via an Occupational Therapy assessment through the Council's First Point of Contact: 0345 678 9044. Smaller aids and adaptations (grab rails, raised toilet seats, non-slip mats) are often available more quickly — ask the OT team.

Age UK Shropshire — Handyperson and Help at Home Age UK Shropshire provides a vetted Handyperson scheme for small home repairs, fitting grab rails, and domestic tasks. Particularly useful forolder people who live alone and cannot easily manage even minor maintenance. Tel: 01743 233123.

Keep Shropshire Warm / Marches Energy Agency Free advice on keeping homes warm, heating, insulation, grants, and energy tariffs. Particularly relevant for older adults on lower incomes who may be living in poorly heated rural properties. Tel: 0800 677 1307 Email: advice@mea.org.uk mea.org.uk

Disabled Facilities Grant — Shropshire Council Means-tested grants of up to £30,000 (2026) for major home adaptations — wet rooms, stairlifts, widened doorways, level-access changes — that allow a person with a disability to remain safely at home. Applied for through Shropshire Council following an OT assessment. Significantly underused because many families do not know it exists. Ask at 0345 678 9044.

Financial Support & Advice

Age UK Shropshire — Benefits Advice Service Free, confidential benefits advice from trained advisers. Covers Attendance Allowance, Pension Credit, Carer's Allowance, council tax reduction, and other entitlements. In our experience this is one of the most valuable free services available — many families discover significant entitlements through a single conversation. Tel: 01743 233123

Citizens Advice North Shropshire Free, independent advice on benefits, debt, housing, consumer rights, and legal matters. Office at Green End Parade, Whitchurch SY13 1AG. Tel: 03444 111 444 citizensadvice.org.uk

Turn2Us A national charity helping people access welfare benefits and grants. Online benefits calculator and grants search tool — particularly useful for families trying to understand what they may be entitled to before making contact with the council. turn2us.org.uk

Wider Carers Support

Carers UK The leading national charity for family carers. Detailed guidance on rights, benefits, workplace entitlements, and the emotional challenges of caring. Helpline free and confidential. Tel: 0808 808 7777 carersuk.org

Alzheimer's Society — Dementia Connect Support Line Seven-days-a-week support line for anyone affected by dementia. Tel: 0333 150 3456 alzheimers.org.uk

Dementia UK — Admiral Nurse Dementia Helpline Free helpline staffed by specialist Admiral Nurses. Available seven days a week for anyone affected by dementia — including family carers who need advice, guidance, or simply someone who understands what they are going through. Tel: 0800 888 6678 dementiauk.org

Parkinson's UK Information, support, and a helpline for people living with Parkinson's and those who care for them. Local support groups in Shropshire. Tel: 0808 800 0303 parkinsons.org.uk

MS Society Support and information for people with multiple sclerosis and their families. Tel: 0808 800 8000 mssociety.org.uk

Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association National helpline and local support for people with MND and their families. Tel: 0808 802 6262 mndassociation.org

Severn Hospice Specialist palliative care for the region. Hospice at Home service, 24-hour advice line for families and carers, and inpatient care where needed. Being supported at home does not exclude hospice involvement — most families benefit from both. Tel: 01743 236565 severnhospice.org.uk

Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing

Shropshire Mind Mental health support services across Shropshire, including talking therapies, peer support groups, and crisis support. Tel: 01743 368647 shropshiremind.org.uk

Samaritans Free, 24-hour confidential emotional support for anyone in distress or struggling to cope. Tel: 116 123 (free, any time) samaritans.org

Cruse Bereavement Support National bereavement charity providing free support following the death of someone important. Bereavement is one of the most significant drivers of deteriorating health in older adults, and accessing support promptly matters. Tel: 0808 808 1677 cruse.org.uk

Regulatory and Quality Checking

Care Quality Commission (CQC) The independent regulator for all care providers in England. You can check the inspection rating and full report of any registered care provider — including NSHC — on the CQC website. You can also use it to report concerns about any care provider. Tel: 03000 616161 cqc.org.uk

Shropshire Together Community Directory Shropshire Council's searchable directory of local services, groups, and support organisations. The most comprehensive single source for community services across the county. directory.shropshire.gov.uk

Shropshire Larder A community directory of local food, support, and wellbeing resources across Shropshire. shropshirelarder.org.uk

A Note on This Page

We have compiled this directory as genuinely and carefully as we can — but services change, groups move, contact details update, and some organisations face funding challenges that affect what they can offer. We cannot guarantee that every detail here is current.

Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin has faced significant funding cuts and launched a major appeal in 2025 to sustain its services. If any of the services listed here matter to you or your family, we would encourage you to support them where you can — financially or as a volunteer. These organisations form the community safety net that makes it possible for people to remain independent and well in North Shropshire. They deserve our support.

If anything here is out of date, if you know of a service we have missed, or if you would simply like to talk through what is available for your particular situation, please call us on 01948 411222 or email mail@nshomecare.co.uk. We know this patch well and we are always glad to help a family navigate it.

North Shropshire Homecare The Coach House, 15/17 Green End, Whitchurch, SY13 1AD Tel: 01948 411222 | mail@nshomecare.co.uk | northshropshirehomecare.co.uk