Jessica House
Red Lion Square
191 Wandsworth High Street
SW18 4LS

Tel: 020 8875 1805
Fax: 020 8870 3619
Web: www.backuptrust.org.uk

Back Up inspires people to transform their lives after a spinal cord injury. They challenge perceptions of disability and run services which aim to build confidence and independence within a supportive environment. They believe that people can still fulfil their potential following a devastating spinal cord injury and offer support to anyone affected by such an injury, including family and friends.

Wheelchair skills:

Wheelchair skills sessions are held at spinal centres across the UK for both in-patients and out-patients. They are all peer-led by spinally injured staff and volunteers who have first hand experience of life in a wheelchair. The sessions aim to increase the skills and confidence of participants to use their wheelchairs across all terrains so they can become more independent.

Rehabilitation courses:

Back Up runs a range of courses for people with a spinal cord injury which aim to build confidence and independence and offer a supportive network. The courses vary from a weekend to a week in length and include everything from drama to skiing and are supported by able bodied/disabled volunteers. They aim to show participants that they can still fulfil their potential after a spinal cord injury by challenging them to venture outside their comfort zone.

Mentoring:

The Back Up mentoring service, accredited by the Mentoring and Befriending Foundation provides tailored one to one support to people affected by spinal cord injury. This support is provided to both people with an injury and their parents or partners by matching them up with a trained volunteer mentor who has 'been there'. Mentoring can help people both with their adjustment to a newly acquired spinal cord injury or during periods of transition by providing practical advice and emotional support on issues such as using public transport, returning to work, parenting and engaging in sports and activities.

Under 18s:

Back Up offers a specialist service for children and young people with spinal cord injury. This includes a mentoring programme that enables them to benefit from advice from someone who was injured at a similar age or has a similar injury; a Back Up to School project that helps young people stay in touch with their school friends, and supports them to be fully included when they return to school; multi-activity courses and wheelchair skills sessions that aim to build confidence and independence; and it offers a number of volunteering opportunities for young people with and without spinal cord injuries to get involved with Back Up.