The Motability Scheme is pleased to announce its new partnership with British Wheelchair Basketball (BWB), with specific sponsorship for its grassroots programme, ‘Inspire a Generation’. The partnership aims to support the growth of wheelchair basketball across the UK and improve access to inclusive sports for disabled people, as well as increase awareness and understanding of the Motability Scheme.

Wheelchair basketball is a unique, inclusive sport that can be played by both disabled and non-disabled people. BWB’s ambition is to transform lives through wheelchair basketball, by breaking down barriers to participation and encouraging its participants to adopt sustained active lifestyles. The Motability Scheme is also unique in transforming lives, helping customers achieve greater freedom and independence through access to affordable, worry-free mobility.

The Motability Scheme enables customers to exchange their mobility allowance for a car, WAV, scooter or powered wheelchair and has been helping disabled people and their families for over 40 years. The partnership with British Wheelchair Basketball highlights its commitment to supporting all aspects of their customers’ lives.

The partnership, which was recently announced at one of British Wheelchair Basketball’s High Performance Partners, Loughborough University, will support the inclusive sport’s grassroots programme, ‘Inspire a Generation’. This programme provides the opportunity for more disabled people to give the sport a go at one of the six week Inspire a Generation courses hosted across the country by its Local Delivery Partners and aims to inspire more young people and adults to participate in wheelchair basketball.

Andrew Miller, CEO of Motability Operations who deliver the Motability Scheme said:

“The Motability Scheme is committed to empowering and enhancing the lives of disabled people. By partnering with innovative and like-minded organisations such as British Wheelchair Basketball we can bring the Scheme and all its benefits to a wider audience, increasing understanding and awareness of our offer. We are proud to support an organisation such as British Wheelchair Basketball that shares our values around driving change and finding solutions.”

Through a dynamic and collaborative partnership, the two organisations will aim to remove barriers to sporting participation so that more disabled people can access and enjoy healthier, active lifestyles.

Justine Baynes, CEO of British Wheelchair Basketball, added:

“We’re really excited to be partnering with the Motability Scheme. ‘Inspire a Generation’ transforms peoples’ lives by providing participants local access to wheelchair basketball within their own communities, so we are thrilled that through this partnership we will raise awareness of the programme, and together we will ensure that even more disabled people across the UK will benefit from the positive impact of wheelchair basketball.”

The partnership will provide opportunities for Motability Scheme customers to get involved in the sport. British Wheelchair Basketball will be offering a taster of the inclusive sport at The Big Event, the Motability Scheme’s flagship customer event which will be taking place at The NEC in Birmingham on Friday 19 and Saturday 20 May 2023. As well as the chance to shoot a hoop, visitors to the event can watch as CEO, Justine Baynes and Men’s GB squad member, Lee Manning, take to the Speaker Sessions stage to tell the incredible story of the GB Team’s success and share information on the ‘Inspire a Generation’ programme.

Through the Motability Scheme, recipients can exchange their higher-rate mobility allowance to lease a brand-new vehicle. Customers can choose the solution that fits their individual needs with a worry-free package including insurance, breakdown cover, servicing and MOT. There’s a wide range of vehicles to choose from that deliver value – on average the Scheme is 45% cheaper than alternative leasing options.

For more information about the Motability Scheme visit motability.co.uk. For more information about British Wheelchair Basketball visit britishwheelchairbasketball.co.uk.