How we work

At Back Up, every decision we make is underpinned by research and a clear set of guiding principles. These form the foundation for all our services — and it nearly always starts with listening to the people we support, along with our staff and volunteers, to understand what’s needed.

We know that people affected by spinal cord injury are best placed to know what they need and to support others in a similar situation. We also carry out research, which helps us better understand how people adapt to life after a spinal cord injury. Every decision we make is led by the needs of the people we support.

More than 500 people contributed to shaping Limitless Ambition to Transform Lives, our 2025–2030 strategy, through workshops, interviews, surveys and focus groups. Read our strategy to find out how we’ll work to ensure everyone affected by spinal cord injury can reach their full potential.

In this section, you can also explore the guiding principles and clinical evidence behind our work. You’ll also learn how we work in partnership with other organisations, how we safeguard the people we support, and how Back Up influences wider change to improve the lives of people affected by spinal cord injury.