Founded in 1983, for over four decades, the charity has provided practical, life-changing support to the 105,000 people currently living with spinal cord injury across the UK.
At the heart of Aspire's work is its Independent Living Advisors programme. Based within specialist Spinal Cord Injury Centres across the country, Independent Living Advisors offer guidance and support to patients at one of the most challenging moments of their lives. Crucially, every Advisor has a spinal cord injury themselves – bringing lived experience, understanding and credibility to the advice they provide. The programme was born from conversations with patients who wanted someone they could turn to: someone who truly understood what they were facing and could help them navigate the daunting transition from hospital to home.
Independent Living Advisors help newly injured patients understand what lies ahead, connecting them with essential services and ensuring they have the information and confidence to rebuild their lives. From practical advice on housing adaptations and equipment to emotional reassurance during a period of profound uncertainty, the programme fills a vital gap in NHS provision.
Alongside its flagship Independent Living programme, Aspire offers a comprehensive suite of services: Assistive Technology Advisors help people with high-level injuries use computers and phones independently; the Housing Team provides temporary accessible accommodation and expert guidance; and the Welfare Benefits and Money Matters services ensure individuals receive the financial support they are entitled to.
With new data showing that someone in the UK is paralysed by spinal cord injury every two hours, Aspire's mission has never been more urgent. By combining practical expertise with the unique insight of those who have walked – or wheeled – the same path, Aspire continues to transform lives and champion a world where people with spinal cord injury have equal opportunities to thrive.
Learn more about their work
here.
