As a person with a permenant spinal cord injury, this charity has a place close to my heart. Without my little boy and husband, I would have given up trying long ago, but thankfully I have their support, and that of my whole family. Others, are not so lucky.

Aspire – from injury to Independence

Incurring a spinal cord injury can be life changing, but you can still lead a full and rewarding life.

Over the last 25 years Aspire has worked with thousands of people throughout the UK and Ireland - creating independence, choice and opportunity. Aspire is a national charity that works with people with spinal cord injuries, providing practical support and advice to help them regain their independence.

We provide the following key services: 

Aspire’s Human Needs Fund offers grants to people with spinal cord injuries to help them buy the specialist equipment needed to live a more independent life. 

We provide a number of specially adapted Temporary Houses which serve as accommodation for patients newly discharged from hospital, and their families, while permanent, accessible accommodation is being arranged.

Aspire’s Independent Living Advisors give practical support to people by sharing advice on how to live a more independent life. We work with patients in Spinal Injury Centres around the country providing accurate information and 'signposting' patients and their families to the best services and information for their needs. 

We also provide Assistive Technology facilities at Spinal Injury Centres which help people use computers, regardless of their level of injury.

Aspire’s head office is the Aspire National Training Centre (ANTC) in Stanmore, Middlesex. The ANTC is a leading innovator in accessible and inclusive fitness and sporting activities. Many of our British paralympians and national squads train at the ANTC, and we are delighted that the ANTC has been chosen as one of the training venues for the 2012 London Paralympics. 

Our research at the Aspire Centre for Disability Sciences has led to ground-breaking work on relief of pressure sores, fertility services and the development of technologies which can greatly assist independent living. 

Through our Campaigning we have developed links with Westminster, Whitehall and the media on a range of important issues including wheelchair provision and accessible housing. We continue to act as advocates for positive change and improvement in these and other areas.

All of Aspire’s services are paid for entirely through charitable income and project-based funding.  We run a number of exciting fundraising activities throughout the year so there are lots of opportunities for everyone to get involved.

To find out more about Aspire please visit their website http://www.aspire.org.uk/