Sam, who lives with spinal muscular atrophy, received a grant for a new wheelchair through a partnership between our grant giving arm the Joseph Patrick Trust and SMArt Moves. He talks about the impact of having the wheelchair; things he’s now able to do with his daughter which he couldn’t before. Why grants like these are vital if an NHS wheelchair doesn’t fit your needs, and the application process he went through.
“My new wheelchair means I can cook breakfast for my daughter”

As someone who lives in Somerset, I love being in the great outdoors with my seven-year-old daughter, Georgia. I used to work for the Wildlife Trust and go on country ‘walks’ as much as possible. I grow my own fruit and vegetables in my garden and used to give my produce to local restaurants and pubs. Everything I enjoy doing is made easier by having a specialist electric wheelchair, so the grant from Muscular Dystrophy UK and SMA UK has improved my quality of life immeasurably.
NHS wheelchairs often aren’t fit for purpose
I realised a few years ago that I wanted to get more of an outdoor wheelchair. All my previous wheelchairs have been funded by the NHS and have been pretty basic but reliable up until recently. Ironically, I had better wheelchairs in the 90s than my last one.
I had a Quickie F55 when I was a teenager, and it was a really good wheelchair. It was a bit like having a mountain bike out and about. I kept up with all my mates when we’d go exploring in the forest.
“Since the recessions and cuts to public services, I’ve seen a massive downturn in what the NHS can provide. The average wheelchair they now offer is far from suitable, and it doesn’t allow me to live an active or inclusive life in any way really.”
My new chair is a game-changer for my independence
After a lot of deliberation, I decided to go with the Magic360 for my new wheelchair. It has so many features that have enhanced my day-to-day life. The riser on my chair means I can go up to a bar and be at the right height or see over people’s shoulders at a gig. I was able to make a cooked breakfast for my daughter the other day as I can now see over the hob. The joy of such simple independence should never be underestimated.

The chair has a maximum speed of six miles per hour instead of four like NHS wheelchairs. Driving fast over uneven terrain is great core exercise for me. Having a wheelchair that can reach running speed and has good suspension is also a safety need; I used to avoid going out and about with my daughter on our own as I was worried that I couldn’t ‘run’ after her, or that my chair might slide down a slope, but that’s not the case anymore. It’ll be a game changer to go on a day out together and not feel nervous.
“It’s like the Range Rover of wheelchairs and it’s going to allow me to go to places that I’ve never been before.”
I went to Dartmoor the other day and was able to get right down to the water’s edge along the River Avon. It was amazing to explore the ancient riverbed, traversing smooth boulders and beautiful rock formations. I was able to confidently go over bog and moorland, as well as steep slopes of gravel track safely.
I’m really excited to move through my enormous list of places to visit this year. I’ll be making memories with my loved ones in some of the most beautiful parts of the country.
Applying for the grant was simple and fast
I was initially pretty nervous about how I was going to afford a new wheelchair and put it off for a good year. But I was pleasantly surprised by the various grants, like the JPT and SMArt Moves one, that helped me get enough money for the wheelchair I needed.
Applying via the Muscular Dystrophy UK website was really easy, and there weren’t too many questions.
“I was elated when I found out I’d been accepted for the grant. It feels like a real blessing to live in a society that has funds available for people that need it.”
It’s not the case everywhere in the world and I’m grateful for all that.
Grants like these are the difference of people in our community getting the equipment they need or not. Especially now people don’t have the spare money to get equipment that would make the world of difference to them.
Find out more about our JPT and SMArt Moves grant here.
Read more about our collaboration with SMArt Moves.