Focus on Middlesbrough

The Golden Jubilee Regional Spinal Cord Injuries Centre at the James Cook University Hospital

Key facts

• 24 beds
• 12 Wheelchair Skills sessions per year

Chris – Outreach and Support Coordinator

How did you first get involved with Back Up?

Other than attending a wheelchair skills session as a patient at Stoke Mandeville, I applied for a job with Back Up in 2017 and haven’t looked back since.

What is your current role?

I’m an O&S Coordinator.

What is your proudest achievement at this centre?

Building relationships and working with a great spinal centre in the North East. Staff, volunteers, and other charities all do amazing work and deliver way beyond their job roles.

What is the biggest challenge or frustration facing you at this centre?

The distance! It’s a long way from the office.

If you could wave a magic wand and change one thing, what would it be?

To have more of a presence at the centre and support the great work they do.

David Wise – Volunteer Wheelchair Skills Trainer

How did you get involved with Back Up?

I kept in touch after my accident and was asked if I’d like to become a wheelchair skills trainer.

What is your current role?

I’m a volunteer wheelchair skills trainer.

What is your proudest achievement at this centre?

Every session is an achievement, seeing the difference in people when they see what is still possible.

If you could wave a magic wand and change one thing, what would it be?

That we get to see everyone that passes through the unit.