--- title: Wheelchair Alliance announces three-year funding partnership with RFU Injured Players Foundation description: The Wheelchair Alliance has announced a three-year funding partnership with the RFU (Rugby Football Union) Injured Players Foundation (IPF) image: https://www.wheelchair-alliance.co.uk/hubfs/Photo%20courtesy%20of%20Leo%20Wilkinson%20Photography.jpg --- [Skip to Content](https://www.wheelchair-alliance.co.uk/blog/wheelchair-alliance-announces-three-year-funding-partnership-with-rfu-injured-players-foundation#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) # Wheelchair Alliance announces three-year funding partnership with RFU Injured Players Foundation 2 min read • Oct 1, 2025, 10:25:11 AM • Written by: The Wheelchair Alliance ![](https://www.wheelchair-alliance.co.uk/hubfs/Photo%20courtesy%20of%20Leo%20Wilkinson%20Photography.jpg) The Wheelchair Alliance has announced a three-year funding partnership with the [RFU (Rugby Football Union) Injured Players Foundation (IPF)](https://www.rfuipf.org.uk/), an independent charity that supports players who have sustained an acute life-changing injury whilst playing rugby union in England. As part of the new partnership, the IPF will provide grant funding to support the Alliance’s ‘United Voices’ 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. The project will create a new national wheelchair user council of wheelchair users from diverse backgrounds who will represent specific geographical areas at a national level. The new group will represent the entire UK, including devolved nations, which will be utilised to inform and shape its strategic and tactical decisions. In addition, the Alliance will use the funding to conduct national listening exercises to shape its agenda and priorities, while working to connect wheelchair users and coordinate action. A national campaign will also be launched to raise awareness and provide a resource to inform and influence policy makers, service providers and local authorities. Of the funding support, CEO of the Alliance, Nick Goldup, said: “Despite the significant population of wheelchair users nationwide, until now there has been no unified structure that represents their collective interests nationally. This has led to fragmented service provision, policy gaps, and persistent inequalities, with some wheelchair users waiting up to four years for assessments, repairs or suitable wheelchairs. “By creating the first coordinated UK wide platform through the ‘United Voices’ project, the Alliance aims to promote equity and drive systemic change through inclusive representation, evidence-led independent research, and the co-creation of policies and recommendations that will ensure wheelchair users nationwide get the right chair at the right time. “Through the ‘United Voices’ project, supported by the RFU Injured Players Foundation, we aim to empower wheelchair users to influence decisions at the highest levels of national policy.” The IPF is England Rugby's official charity and supports players from any level of the game who have sustained an acute life-changing injury while playing rugby union in England. With 150 members, the support it gives includes immediate support in hospital alongside emotional, practical and financial assistance. This includes funding for additional rehabilitation or housing adaptations and specialised equipment, including access to appropriate wheelchair provision. Speaking of the partnership, IPF director Dr Karen Hood, said: “We are really pleased to be able to support the Wheelchair Alliance. We believe its ‘United Voices’ project will have direct benefit for wheelchair users nationwide, including many of our IPF beneficiaries, by driving systemic change through inclusive and comprehensive representation. “Thankfully life-changing injuries in rugby are extremely rare which means we have a relatively small membership supported by an even smaller team*.* We are therefore keen to support other organisations with the expertise to effect change and remove many of the barriers that our members could otherwise face, such as reducing the delays associated with sourcing the right wheelchair for them to lead an independent and fulfilling life. “We have seen first-hand how much can be achieved and enjoyed in life when barriers are removed. There are so many positive benefits associated with having timely access to the right mobility equipment, especially with regards to employment, education and well-being. “We look forward to our two organisations working positively together.”  For more information about the Wheelchair Alliance, visit [wheelchair-alliance.co.uk](https://www.wheelchair-alliance.co.uk)  To find out more about the RFU Injured Players Foundation, visit [RFUIPF.org.uk](http://www.RFUIPF.org.uk)  \* Photo courtesy of Leo Wilkinson Photography #### Reach the World. Giving Made Easy with Impact. [Get Started](https://www.example.com) ###### The Wheelchair Alliance Our Latest ##### Related Articles ![](https://www.wheelchair-alliance.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/PICTUR~1.png?width=700&name=PICTUR~1.png) ### [Wheelchair Alliance appoints members of UK’s first national advisory network of wheelchair users](https://www.wheelchair-alliance.co.uk/blog/wheelchair-alliance-appoints-members-of-uks-first-national-advisory-network-of-wheelchair-users) ![](https://www.wheelchair-alliance.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Wheelchair%20Alliance_TWC_launch.jpg?width=700&name=Wheelchair%20Alliance_TWC_launch.jpg) ### [Wheelchair users sought to create national council that will shape the future of wheelchair provision in the UK](https://www.wheelchair-alliance.co.uk/blog/wheelchair-users-sought-to-create-national-council-that-will-shape-the-future-of-wheelchair-provision-in-the-uk) ![](https://www.wheelchair-alliance.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/WHEELC~4-1.jpg?width=700&name=WHEELC~4-1.jpg) ### [Wheelchair Alliance launches free membership for wheelchair users, their families and carers](https://www.wheelchair-alliance.co.uk/blog/wheelchair-alliance-launches-free-membership-for-wheelchair-users-their-families-and-carers) - [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) [![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. 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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" : "The Wheelchair Alliance", "url" : "https://www.wheelchair-alliance.co.uk/blog/author/the-wheelchair-alliance" }, "dateModified" : "2025-10-01T14:39:21.136Z", "datePublished" : "2025-10-01T14:25:11.000Z", "headline" : "Wheelchair Alliance announces three-year funding partnership with RFU Injured Players Foundation", "image" : [ "https://www.wheelchair-alliance.co.uk/hubfs/Photo%20courtesy%20of%20Leo%20Wilkinson%20Photography.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.wheelchair-alliance.co.uk/blog/wheelchair-alliance-announces-three-year-funding-partnership-with-rfu-injured-players-foundation", "@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" } } ```