Mobility in Motion Partners with Spinal Injuries Association to Advance Accessible Travel

More than 105,000 people are estimated to be living with  SCI in the UK, and SIA research finds three quarters of people surveyed have experienced challenges when travelling.

For many people living with SCI, the ability to travel independently is an important part of rebuilding everyday life. SIA’s Travel with Confidence research, based on responses from 1,508 people living with SCI, found that 75.37% had previously experienced challenges when travelling and almost half – 48.45% – said their mobility equipment did not allow them to participate in all the activities they wanted to do.

SIA’s wider research has also identified access to transport as a significant concern. Its What Matters survey found that 35% of respondents said access to personal transportation and a suitable wheelchair were their main concerns when living with SCI, while between 30% and 40% reported significant challenges accessing public transport and accessible parking spaces.

Against this backdrop, Mobility in Motion’s collaboration with SIA aims to help raise awareness of the practical mobility solutions available to people living with spinal cord injury, while giving Mobility in Motion greater insight into the real-world experiences and challenges faced by the SCI community.

Earlier this year, Gary Dawson, Support Network Manager at SIA, visited Mobility in Motion’s headquarters, where he explored a range of vehicle adaptations, shared perspectives from the spinal cord injury community, and took part in a photoshoot that will form part of upcoming awareness campaigns.

Bruce Lauder, Head of Commercial at Mobility in Motion, said “For people living with spinal cord injury, being able to travel independently can make a significant difference to everyday life. Our relationship with SIA is about listening to the experiences of the SCI community and understanding the barriers people face, so that we can help connect people with practical mobility solutions that are right for them.

Our charity relationships are about more than awareness. They are about listening, learning, and using those insights to improve what we do. Working with Spinal Injuries Association gives us an opportunity to better understand the lived experience of spinal cord injury and the role that appropriate vehicle adaptations can play in supporting independence.”

The collaboration forms part of Mobility in Motion’s wider work to develop deeper relationships with specialist charities and organisations that represent the communities it serves.

SIA’s 2024 Travel with Confidence project highlighted the importance of being able to travel independently after SCI, recognising that travel enables people to maintain social connections, get to work and appointments, take children to school, enjoy holidays and participate in everyday life. The project provided information and resources covering different forms of transport, including cars, as well as mobility equipment and wheelchair provision.

Through its work with SIA, Mobility in Motion will also become part of SIA Lifestyle, SIA’s online shop connecting the SCI community with products and services selected to support independence and everyday living.

Mobility in Motion products will be available to SIA members through SIA Lifestyle, alongside an exclusive member offer. A donation will also be made to SIA with every purchase, helping to support its charitable services.

Gary Dawson, Support Network Manager at SIA, said: “Travel is an important part of living an independent life after spinal cord injury, but our research shows that many people continue to experience barriers when travelling.

Having access to the right information, equipment and support can help people feel more confident about travelling and making choices that work for them. Working with Mobility in Motion gives us an opportunity to highlight practical solutions and help our community understand the options available to support greater independence.”

SIA’s 2024 Travel with Confidence project was established to improve the skills and knowledge of the SCI community to travel independently and confidently, with resources designed around the experiences and needs of people living with SCI.

Mobility in Motion will continue to share updates from the collaboration throughout the year, including  joint initiatives and further developments within its expanding charity programme.