Ollie’s story: Looking forwards after spinal cord injury
30 June 2026
Meet Ollie:
- Likes spending time outdoors with his fiancé
- Enjoys going to music concerts
- Buys and sells clothes as a hobby
Ollie sustained a spinal cord injury following a car accident in December 2020. “I was on my way to work when I was involved in a traffic collision. I sustained a T6 complete injury which means I have no sensation from my chest down and I’m now a wheelchair user.”
Initially he was taken to a hospital in Birmingham, and then he was transferred to the spinal centre in Oswestry to continue his rehabilitation. “I didn’t think anything like this would ever happen to me. In the blink of an eye, I went from being a very active person to lying in a hospital bed, unable to do much for myself. I wanted to get back to doing the things I loved, so I decided to move forwards and face my challenges head on.”
Whilst looking for support online, he discovered Back Up. “I connected with somebody on Facebook who had a similar injury to me. They recommended the charity’s services, so I picked up the phone and got in touch.”
In 2023, Ollie signed up for our multi-activity course in the Lake District. “I’ve always loved spending time in nature, and the multi-activity residential gave me the opportunity to do exactly that. We tried so many fun activities, like canoeing and woodland walks, and I enjoyed every minute!”
“Throughout the week, we also took part in wheelchair skills training. We were taught how to manoeuvre round obstacles, navigate steps, and do an emergency stop in our chairs – these techniques were so useful, and I now use them to get around confidently in day to day life.”
“The course helped me find a supportive community following my injury. I met people with different injuries and backgrounds, and we all shared our experiences, learning from each other and encouraging one another to achieve our goals.”
After that, he reached out to our Vocation Team for support with returning to work. “First off, I joined Back Up’s Skills for Work course. That was really valuable as I discovered how to approach employers, how to talk about my disability, and how to ask for reasonable adjustments.”
“I then went on to join their Coach to Work programme, which helped shift my mindset around employment. Before the course, I often focussed on the things that I couldn’t do. Talking to the group leaders and hearing their experiences helped me overcome these mental barriers, and I rebuilt my self-belief around the world of work.”
Through our Vocation services, Ollie then found a voluntary role as a member of our Front Row Committee. “I’m really passionate about clothes and style, so supporting with a fashion fundraising event felt like the perfect fit for me. I get to put the skills I learned on my Vocation courses into practice, attending Committee meetings and helping the team plan a truly special evening.”
Looking ahead to the future, he hopes to find a full-time role within the world of fashion. And outside of work, he has big plans to finish building his accessible bungalow and start a family with his fiancé.
When asked what advice he would give to others, Ollie says, “I think it’s important to look forwards rather than backwards in life. Back Up can help open your eyes to what’s possible after spinal cord injury, and you’ll soon realise you can do a lot more than you think.”
