Teach wheelchair skills

Back Up’s wheelchair skills trainers deliver sessions at all the spinal cord injury centres in the UK, general hospitals and on our residential courses.

All our trainers have a spinal cord injury and the sessions cover everything from pushing technique and back-wheel balance to ascending and descending stairs. We run sessions for people using both manual and powered wheelchairs.

“It’s really rewarding. It’s not just teaching people how to use their chair in a safe environment, but it’s also about combating the isolation newly injured people experience.”

Sam, WCS trainer 

If you have a spinal cord injury and want to help people improve their skills and confidence, why not join our team of experienced trainers?

What does it involve?

• Building confidence and independence by teaching wheelchair skills to people with a spinal cord injury
• Ensuring all participants are included, tailoring the training to individuals’ needs
• This role would suit a good communicator with experience of living with a spinal cord injury, who has good wheelchair skills appropriate to their level of injury

What we offer:

• The opportunity for you to become a qualified wheelchair skills trainer at an initial two day train-the-trainer course’ and short pre-training virtual session
• Support, guidance and feedback from experienced trainers and outreach and support staff
• Agreed expenses covered by Back Up

Read the full Volunteer Wheelchair Skills Trainer Role Description (pdf).

Interested?

Our next training weekend will be taking place in 2025. If you are interested then please fill in the application form and send it in. We will then contact you for the next round of recruitment.

Apply to become a Wheelchair Skills Trainer