New roles at Wheelchair Alliance help drive its agenda for positive change

The Wheelchair Alliance has welcomed two new project managers to help the community interest company (CIC) carry out its work in ensuring wheelchair users get the right chair, at the right time.

Lizzie Hawkins joins the Alliance as project manager for two days a week, following the announcement of a three-year funding partnership with the RFU (Rugby Football Union) Injured Players Foundation (IPF) last month. She will be responsible for leading The Wheelchair Collective project which aims to establish a strong, unified national voice for the estimated 1.2 million wheelchair users across the UK to improve services and access.

Previously, Lizzie was a strategy coach and project co-ordinator at Accessibility Partners UK, which provides professional training and coaching to help people with disabilities get back to work.

In her new role with the Alliance, Lizzie will use her extensive experience in project and events management, alongside a focus on accessibility and equity, to create a new national wheelchair user collective. They will be recruited from diverse backgrounds to represent the entire UK, including devolved nations.

Lizzie will also work on the project management of work arising from the Alliance’s specialist interest group for innovation (SIG).

As the director of operations at Access Outdoors CIC, she also works alongside the Alliance’s patron, the Disabled Adventurer Nick Wilson on improving access to nature, heritage, and outdoor spaces for disabled people across the UK.

Commenting on her new role with the Alliance, Lizzie said: “The Wheelchair Collective project is a pivotal moment for the Alliance. Creating the first coordinated UK wide platform through this project highlights our commitment in ensuring that the voices of wheelchair users are heard.

“Work on a national campaign launch is currently underway to help raise awareness and enable us to collectively come together and provide a much-needed resource to inform and influence policy makers, service providers and local authorities.

“I can’t wait to be part of something that’s really making a difference!”

Also joining the Alliance team is project manager Philip Hoare. An inclusive creator who campaigns for disability inclusion, he is also a co-founder of The Purple Collective, a community platform designed to unite activists and drive positive change in the disability space.

As a wheelchair user himself, Philip will spend one day a week in his new role utilising his experience in creating content and design to lead on the development of the Alliance website to ensure that it remains accessible for all while aligning to the values of the CIC.

“It’s been very rewarding joining the Wheelchair Alliance,” said Philip. “As a wheelchair user myself, I hope to bring my own perspective to the fore.

“I know that the work that I will be doing is going to help others, so my focus will be on ensuring that the website connects to its values, while being readable and easy to navigate.”

Of the appointments, chief executive officer of the Alliance Nick Goldup, said: “It’s fantastic to welcome both Lizzie and Philip to the Alliance team.

“Lizzie is an extremely well experienced project manager who will be tasked with looking after The Wheelchair Collective project alongside the RFU IPF. She will also be key to leading and driving SIG initiatives forward.

“Philip will also be an integral part of the team as he helps to ensure that the Alliance website continues to be accessible and easy to navigate, particularly as we continue to grow the awareness of who we are.

“Here at the Alliance, we advocate for greater accessibility, choice, and equity in wheelchair provision, working with individuals, NHS partners, charities, and industry. Our mission is to ensure that every wheelchair user can access the right wheelchair, at the right time, with the right support and these two new roles help support us in that mission.”