Your search for “Spinal”

We’re thrilled to announce that Andrew Dickinson has taken over a new role at Back Up as our Family Outreach and Support Coordinator. This unique new role, which is funded by a grant from the Baxter International Foundation, is a first point of contact for family members of people with spinal cord injury, providing much […]

We believe that all of our team of over 400 volunteers make a unique and vital contribution to our work. Back Up was founded by volunteers and volunteering remains at the heart of everything we do. Our volunteers govern Back Up, run wheelchair skills sessions, group lead courses, raise awareness and funds, and support and […]

How did you first become involved with Back Up? In November 2015, I received an email from my company asking for people to volunteer as Buddies on Back Up’s Ski Karting course in Sweden. I liked the idea but two things held me back initially: I knew nothing about spinal cord injury – I had […]

Richard, aged 64, is a long standing volunteer power chair trainer and mentor. He has an undeniable passion for volunteering and helping people to make positive changes in their lives. Seeing the difference when they break through a barrier or achieve a goal is a satisfying feeling, one that never gets old for Richard. ”One […]

Some people are clearly born runners; their long legs bound gracefully over concrete, one long limbed extension after another, a serene look of ease on their fair, unclammy face. They glide past you on the street as silent and fast as an archer’s release. Sadly for the majority of us this is not the case. […]

We were introduced to Back Up during our first whirlwind stay at the National Spinal Injuries Centre, Stoke Mandeville. My mind was unable to process much of that upheaval period so soon after the accident despite the repetition and familiarity of each day. So whilst we appreciated Wacky Wednesday fun – a monthly cooking evening […]

In 2016, we decided to change the name of Join the Dots to Wheelchair Skills Extra. Many of you will be aware of our Join the Dots wheelchair skills sessions, which are held in town centres near many of the spinal centres in the UK. These community based sessions are an expansion of the original wheelchair […]

It could be thought that being dependent on others is the antithesis of being independent. However, as my injury limits the use of my lower and upper limbs, making me reliant on the support of personal assistants for many everyday tasks, independence takes on a slightly different meaning than it might conventionally evoke. My dependence […]

Back Up has won the Snow Sport Industries of Great Britain (SIGB) Foundation’s award for ‘most deserving snowsport charity’. The accolade comes with a grant of £4,000 which will be used exclusively to help fund the charity’s ski courses in 2017. The funding for the £4,000 grant is courtesy of The Slide Industry Trade Show […]

I have always been a very active, outdoorsy girl. I love going out with friends, being sociable and spending as much time as possible with horses! I started riding at the age of two and, before the accident, I had my dream job working for a top event rider. As her Head Girl, I would […]