--- title: "From Advisory Board to Think Tank: Future-proofing the Alliance" description: The current Wheelchair Alliance Advisory Board has recently transitioned to become a new Think Tank, bringing together specialist knowledge, lived experience and sector insight to help shape our future work. image: https://www.wheelchair-alliance.co.uk/hubfs/Karen%20Pearce%2c%20chair%20of%20the%20Wheelchair%20Alliance.jpg --- [Skip to Content](https://www.wheelchair-alliance.co.uk/blog/from-advisory-board-to-think-tank-future-proofing-the-alliance#body) [Donate](https://www.wheelchair-alliance.co.uk/wheelchair-alliance-donate) [![Wheelchair Alliance Logo](https://www.wheelchair-alliance.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Wheelchair%20Alliance%20Logo%20Landscape-1.webp?width=750&height=227&name=Wheelchair%20Alliance%20Logo%20Landscape-1.webp "Wheelchair Alliance Logo")](https://www.wheelchair-alliance.co.uk) [Become a Member](https://www.wheelchair-alliance.co.uk/wheelchair-alliance-wheelchair-users-membership-sign-up) [![Wheelchair Alliance Logo](https://www.wheelchair-alliance.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Wheelchair%20Alliance%20Logo%20Landscape-1.webp?width=750&height=227&name=Wheelchair%20Alliance%20Logo%20Landscape-1.webp "Wheelchair Alliance Logo")](https://www.wheelchair-alliance.co.uk) Menu - [HOME](https://www.wheelchair-alliance.co.uk) - THE ALLIANCE - [THE WHEELCHAIR COLLECTIVE](https://www.wheelchair-alliance.co.uk/wheelchaircollective) - [SUPPORTERS](https://www.wheelchair-alliance.co.uk/wheelchair-alliance-partners) - [ABOUT US](https://www.wheelchair-alliance.co.uk/wheelchair-alliance-about-us) - [REPORTS](https://www.wheelchair-alliance.co.uk/wheelchair-alliance-reports) - [ALL-PARTY PARLIAMENTARY GROUP](https://www.wheelchair-alliance.co.uk/all-partyparliamentarygroup) - [INNOVATION SIG](https://www.wheelchair-alliance.co.uk/innovation-special-interest-group) - [CONTACT](https://www.wheelchair-alliance.co.uk/wheelchair-alliance-contact) - [ACADEMY](https://www.wheelchair-alliance.co.uk/academy) - [NEWS](https://www.wheelchair-alliance.co.uk/blog) - [Become a Member](https://www.wheelchair-alliance.co.uk/wheelchair-alliance-wheelchair-users-membership-sign-up) - [Donate](https://www.wheelchair-alliance.co.uk/wheelchair-alliance-donate) [Back to blog](https://www.wheelchair-alliance.co.uk/blog) # From Advisory Board to Think Tank: Future-proofing the Alliance 1 min read • Jul 30, 2026, 11:36:28 AM • Written by: Nick Goldup ![](https://www.wheelchair-alliance.co.uk/hubfs/Karen%20Pearce%2c%20chair%20of%20the%20Wheelchair%20Alliance.jpg) The Wheelchair Alliance is evolving to strengthen the voice of wheelchair users and drive lasting, positive change across wheelchair provision. As part of this development, the current Wheelchair Alliance Advisory Board has recently transitioned to become a new Think Tank, bringing together specialist knowledge, lived experience and sector insight to help shape our future work. This change follows rapid development of the Alliance since launch in 2016. It became a community interest company (CIC) in November 2021, with Nick Goldup appointed as Chief Executive Officer and Karen Pearce as Chair in 2024. The launch of The Wheelchair Collective – the UK’s first national advisory board of wheelchair users – followed in May 2026, providing a clear route for wheelchair users from across the UK to share the issues, experiences and priorities that matter most. Made up of ten regional representatives and a Chair, the collective voice of young children in the UK will also be represented by our partner, Whizz Kidz. Together they will help ensure wheelchair users are listened to and that their views remain at the heart of the Alliance’s decisions. The Chair of The Wheelchair Collective, Damian Joseph Bridgeman, will also sit on the Think Tank, ensuring that this collective voice directly informs discussions about policy, research, services and innovation. Commenting on the change from Advisory Board to Think Tank, Karen Pearce, Chair of the Alliance, said: “By bringing together subject matter experts from across wheelchair services, commissioning, clinical practice, research, data, manufacturing, charities and wider policy, the Think Tank will provide evidence-informed advice to the CIC Board, helping us understand complex challenges and identify practical solutions that support better access, quality and equity for wheelchair users. “For wheelchair users, commissioners and providers, this is about building a stronger, clearer and more effective Alliance. It means lived experience, professional expertise and real-world evidence will work side by side. “The transition to a Think Tank will also help to future-proof the organisation, ensuring the Alliance remains independent, collaborative and focused on its mission of improving wheelchair provision so that every wheelchair user can access the right chair, at the right time, right now.” #### Reach the World. Giving Made Easy with Impact. [Get Started](https://www.example.com) ![](https://www.wheelchair-alliance.co.uk/hubfs/wa-newsletter-jan24-quote-images.png) ###### Nick Goldup Chair of The Wheelchair Alliance Our Latest ##### Related Articles ![](https://www.wheelchair-alliance.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/David%20Stockdale%2c%20CEO%20of%20the%20BHTA%20with%20Nick%20Goldup%2c%20chair%20and%20chief%20operating%20officer%20at%20the%20Wheelchair%20Alliance%20HIGH%20RES.jpg?width=700&name=David%20Stockdale,%20CEO%20of%20the%20BHTA%20with%20Nick%20Goldup,%20chair%20and%20chief%20operating%20officer%20at%20the%20Wheelchair%20Alliance%20HIGH%20RES.jpg) ### [Wheelchair Alliance signs three-year agreement with the British Healthcare Trades Association](https://www.wheelchair-alliance.co.uk/blog/wheelchair-alliance-signs-three-year-agreement-with-the-british-healthcare-trades-association) ![](https://www.wheelchair-alliance.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Nick%20Goldup%2c%20CEO%20Wheelchair%20Alliance.jpg?width=700&name=Nick%20Goldup,%20CEO%20Wheelchair%20Alliance.jpg) ### [Wheelchair Alliance launches three-year strategy focused on championing needs of wheelchair users](https://www.wheelchair-alliance.co.uk/blog/wheelchair-alliance-launches-three-year-strategy-focused-on-championing-needs-of-wheelchair-users) ![](https://www.wheelchair-alliance.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Karen%20and%20Nick%20outside%20DfT.jpg?width=700&name=Karen%20and%20Nick%20outside%20DfT.jpg) ### [Powered mobility regulation: Is the current framework fit for purpose?](https://www.wheelchair-alliance.co.uk/blog/powered-mobility-regulation-is-the-current-framework-fit-for-purpose) - [Home](https://www.wheelchair-alliance.co.uk/home) - [Wheelchair Users](https://www.wheelchair-alliance.co.uk/wheelchair-alliance-wheelchair-users) - [Commissioners & Providers](https://www.wheelchair-alliance.co.uk/wheelchair-service-commissioners-providers) - [The Alliance](https://www.wheelchair-alliance.co.uk/wheelchair-alliance-about-us) - [Wheelchair Charter](https://www.wheelchair-alliance.co.uk/wheelchair-alliance-charter) - [Reports](https://www.wheelchair-alliance.co.uk/wheelchair-alliance-reports) - [FAQ's](https://www.wheelchair-alliance.co.uk/wheelchair-alliance-main-faq) - [Supporters](https://www.wheelchair-alliance.co.uk/wheelchair-alliance-partners) - [News](https://www.wheelchair-alliance.co.uk/blog) - [Contact Us](https://www.wheelchair-alliance.co.uk/wheelchair-alliance-contact) - [Advertise With Us](https://www.wheelchair-alliance.co.uk/wheelchair-alliance-contact) [![Share on facebook](https://7528309.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/7528309/hubfs/raw_assets/public/mV0_d-web-default-modules_hubspot/img/facebook-color.png?width=24&name=facebook-color.png)](https://www.facebook.com/WheelchairAlliance) [![Share on linkedin](https://7528302.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/7528302/hubfs/raw_assets/public/mV0_d-web-default-modules_hubspot/img/linkedin-color.png?width=24&name=linkedin-color.png)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/wheelchair-alliance/) **Wheelchair Alliance Community Interest Company | Registered number: 13761260** In November 2021, the Wheelchair Alliance became a Community Interest Company. This is a special type of company which exists to benefit a specific community, namely the community of wheelchair users in England. We took this important step so that we could look for sponsors to help us achieve what we have set out to do in our strategy. All the  Board Members of the Wheelchair Alliance volunteer their time, however we do have to fund things such as your website, some administrative support and project work which gathers evidence helping us lobby for change. There are no shareholders in the company, and should there be any profit it is ploughed back into making a difference for the wheelchair community on a national level. All rights reserved. Disclaimer:  *To support wheelchair users in finding the information they are looking for, The Wheelchair Alliance will at times provide links to websites that we believe may be of interest. The Wheelchair Alliance does not endorse any particular organisation, service or product that may be advertised on third party websites. The Wheelchair Alliance assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of these third party websites.* *Address:  167-169 Great Portland Street, London, W1W 5PF* *email: admin@wheelchair-alliance.co.uk* [Privacy Policy |](https://144566510.hs-sites-eu1.com/wheelchair-alliance-privacy-policy)[Our Policies](https://144566510.hs-sites-eu1.com/wheelchair-alliance-our-policies) ♥ Made with Care for the Wheelchair Alliance ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Nick Goldup", "url" : "https://www.wheelchair-alliance.co.uk/blog/author/nick-goldup" }, "dateModified" : "2026-08-26T09:39:55.508Z", "datePublished" : "2026-07-30T15:36:28.000Z", "headline" : "From Advisory Board to Think Tank: Future-proofing the Alliance", "image" : [ "https://www.wheelchair-alliance.co.uk/hubfs/Karen%20Pearce%2c%20chair%20of%20the%20Wheelchair%20Alliance.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.wheelchair-alliance.co.uk/blog/from-advisory-board-to-think-tank-future-proofing-the-alliance", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.wheelchair-alliance.co.uk/hubfs/Wheelchair%20Alliance%20Logo%20Landscape-1.webp" }, "name" : "Wheelchair Alliance Community Interest Company" } } ```