AFTER a bad fall at work, Michael Ray was left in agony, unable to stand long enough to take a shower.

But he says a centre in Witney, which helps find equipment for disabled people, “turned his life around”, offering him the advice and products to make day-to-day living easier again Mr Ray, from Ducklington, near Witney, used the Guideposts Trust’s Independent Living Centre.

The centre offers disabled people the chance to view, try out and get expert advice on products aimed to help them live a more independent life.

Mr Ray, 66, said he was in a “bad way” after the fall, which left him with displaced bones in his back.

The staff at the Witney centre loaned him a walker and a seat for his shower and offered advice on how best to use them to help his back problem.

He said: “Before I got the walker I was in agony.

“Whenever I went into Witney I had to know where all the seats were – and walk between them. The walker has made a world of difference, and, without a shadow of a doubt, it has improved my life.”

The centre, which is essentially a showroom, is split into four sections, allowing the disabled to view products for the bathroom, bedroom, kitchen and living room.

The items range from large structures to help people get out of the bed or bath, to small but ingenious hi-tech gadgets, including a fingerprint-recognition system to electronically open doors.

David Beck, the trust’s fundraising and development manager, said: “Everything we do is to enable people to live independently with as much quality in their life as possible, to have the same opportunity that you and I have.

“Any disabilities you have shouldn’t prevent you from living independently because the technology and design and equipment is all there.”

Although most of the items are provided free of charge to patients through the NHS, based on an assessment of individual needs, others have to be paid for.

But regional manager Jackie Goodwin said the centre existed to provide a service to disabled people, not to sell products.

She said: “We’re not trying to sell a particular product, we’re trying to find the thing that’s best for you.”

As well as working with the disabled, the Guideposts Trust also provides a whole range of other activities and services of people of all ages with a variety of special needs.

These include is a friendship and dating service for those with special needs, a ‘help at home’ service for the disabled and elderly and a dementia helpline.

Guideposts Trust is funded through donations from local authorities, businesses and individuals.

For more details about the trusts’s services, see guidepoststrust.org.uk or call 01993 899980