Motability Foundation awards £1.86 million grant to Back Up

12 September 2023

Back Up deliver services that build confidence and independence and inspire people affected by spinal cord injury to transform their lives.

Services include:

  • Wheelchair Skills Training
  • Life Skills and Activity Courses
  • Mentoring
  • Return to Work Support

The new funding from Motability Foundation will be focused on activities which ensure that people with spinal cord injury have more positive experience of the transport system and feel more confident in making journeys. The grant will be awarded over three years.

Abigail Lock, Back Up’s Chief Executive said; “86% of people who use Back Up’s mentoring service had travel and transport related goals. This is not surprising given how vital travel and transport is to living life to the full, getting back to work or simply meeting up with your friends.”

“Our partnership with Motability Foundation will mean that we can reach even more people affected by spinal cord injury. This funding will enable us to teach the practical skills and give confidence to the thousands of people with spinal cord injury to travel how they want, where they want and when they want.”

Hear Pedro’s story on how he learnt how to travel independently after sustaining a life-changing spinal cord injury through a motorcycle accident. Determined to keep his active lifestyle, Pedro signed up for a Back Up Multi Activity Course – where he rediscovered his confidence by learning from others on the course.

Lisa Jones, Director of Charitable Operations at the Motability Foundation said: “We’re delighted to provide funding to Back Up, who provide activities to people with spinal cord injury to improve their confidence when travelling.

“For many disabled people, travelling can be a challenge, so having access to a service like this can be a lifeline. Awarding grants to experienced organisations like Back Up, to help disabled people make the journeys they choose, is the reason we launched our impact grants programme supporting other charities and organisations.”