Trying to fundraise for a powered wheelchair would love any advice you have

laura010 · October 2020

janer1967 · October 2020

Hi @laura010 welcome to the community

Have you thought of a go fund me page

A bake sale goes well too but would be hard currently to do much I would imagine

Hope others have some ideas have you looked on internet for fund raising ideas

chiarieds · October 2020

Hi @laura010 - & welcome to the community. Just to add to the comments above, I found these links: https://www.themobilityaidscentre.co.uk/content/get-funding-new-wheelchair/ Hope some of this is helpful, & you hear more options from other members.

Ross_Alumni · October 2020

Hello @laura010 and welcome to the community.

I have moved your discussion to our disability aids and equipment category in the hope that it will get further responses. Best of luck with your fundraising and I hope to see you sticking around on the community

Chloe_Scope · October 2020

Hi @laura010 and a warm welcome to the community! Here is some information from Scope's how to get a wheelchair page:

Wheelchair voucher scheme

Personal wheelchair budgets are replacing the NHS wheelchair voucher scheme. But some local services may not offer wheelchair budgets yet.

The wheelchair service will give you a voucher instead. This has the same value as the chair they offer. You can use the voucher towards the cost of the chair you want.

You can then buy a chair privately using the voucher and other funding, such as:

your own money
a grant
through crowdfunding

If you use a voucher, the wheelchair belongs to you. You will need to maintain and repair it. The NHS will not pay for this.

Grants to pay for a wheelchair

Getting a grant can help you get a wheelchair for free or pay towards the total cost. You’ll need to meet the grant provider’s rules about:

what they fund
the size of grants
if you can apply
assessing what you need
how to buy the equipment

Some disability charities and trusts offer grants and funding for equipment. Search different charities supporting your condition or impairment to find out how they can help.

Do not apply for a grant from a charity or trust unless you've checked if it will affect your means-tested (income-based) benefits. Talk about your options with your occupational therapist, care manager or local disability information and advice organisation.

Finding and applying for grants

Grants checker tool

Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding may help you pay for a wheelchair. Keep any money you raise in a separate bank account.

A strong story helps make fundraising successful. Make sure you are comfortable with sharing your personal life with the public before starting fundraising.

Crowdfunding can affect your benefits

Money that you raise could be treated as income by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). This could affect means-tested (income-based) benefits.

Savings and means-tested benefits

Contact the Scope helpline

I hope this is helpful. please do let us know how you get on.