Bespoke Passenger Solutions

Life-changing vehicle grant for disabled passengers extended to 2029

The Motability Foundation has extended its Bespoke Passenger Solutions (BPS) grant programme until 2029, after an evaluation found it has made a significant, and often life-changing, difference to disabled people with the most complex care needs and to the families who travel with them.

Since the programme launched in 2022, the charity has awarded 475 grants worth more than £15 million in total, with an average award of over £31,500 towards the Advance Payment for a bespoke vehicle on the Motability Scheme.

 

 

Closing a gap in support

The Motability Foundation developed BPS after identifying a gap in 2019. Some disabled people’s needs go much further than access in and out of a wheelchair accessible vehicle, and before the programme many families were making do with cramped space, difficult manual handling and vehicles that could not safely accommodate medical, mobility or personal care needs. Travel was possible, but it often meant more risk, more effort and more stress for everyone involved.

A BPS vehicle is designed to change that, with changing facilities, personal hoisting and privacy built into a large WAV. For families who already know the demands of hoisting a loved one at home, having the same support available on a journey can make the difference between going out and staying in.

 

What the evaluation found

The decision to extend the programme follows an evaluation drawing on 166 survey responses from BPS beneficiaries and their families or carers, along with five in-depth case studies and individual interviews. Comparing life before and after receiving a BPS vehicle, it found:

• A 56% improvement in social connections.
• A 50% improvement in wellbeing.
• A 23% positive difference in getting to health appointments.
• 83% of carers reported improved life satisfaction.
• 79% of carers described the change as significant or life-changing.

Beneficiaries also reported improvements in independence, choice and control.

 

Helen Rose, Grant Programme Manager at the Motability Foundation, said:

“For disabled people with multiple and profound care needs, having the right facilities inside a vehicle can make a significant difference to everyday life. That’s why we’re delighted to be able to continue with our BPS grant programme. The evaluation has demonstrated the positive and life changing impact BPS has on both disabled passengers and their carers, making their journeys and personal care easier to manage.”

 

“The Beast”: one family’s story

Tyler Dervish, 20, lives in Norfolk with his mum and dad, Teresa and Warren. Tyler was born with spastic quadriplegic Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease, a rare progressive condition, and cannot walk or sit unaided. Before the family received a BPS grant two years ago, travelling was distressing for him.

Their specially adapted Volkswagen Crafter, nicknamed “The Beast” because of its size, has room for all of Tyler’s equipment, plus the family’s two small dogs. It has opened up trips to history museums, which Tyler loves, and a recent holiday to the Isle of Wight.

Teresa Dervish said:

“We are all so grateful for this and honestly can’t express how much of a difference having this vehicle has made to our family. We couldn’t have afforded to purchase this without the help of this grant. Tyler is so much more comfortable now whilst travelling, thanks to the hoist and rock and roll chair. He knows if he needs to have a stretch, we can stop and do so, which we have done on numerous occasions.”

Being more comfortable on the road also means Tyler can keep going to his boxing gym, Able2b, which is run by an orthopaedic surgeon and former boxer. Despite his condition being progressive, his family say the classes have helped him tremendously, and he still goes twice a week.

 

How to apply

Disabled people on the Motability Scheme or applying to join, or their appointee, can apply for a BPS grant. As well as the Advance Payment for the vehicle and its adaptations, the grant can cover minor adaptations if needs change during the lease, and familiarisation lessons for the main driver if they need help getting used to a larger vehicle.

A few points worth knowing before you start:

• All applications are means-tested, so grants go to those in most need of financial help.
• Don’t order a vehicle before you’ve had a grant decision, as the Foundation can’t award a grant for a vehicle that has already been ordered.
• Only vehicles available on the Motability Scheme are covered.

Full eligibility criteria are on the Motability Foundation’s Bespoke Passenger Solutions page (external link will open in a new browser tab or window), or you can call the grants team on 0800 500 3186.

 

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Further reading and resources

The Motability Scheme
Changes to the Motability Scheme
Wheelchair Vehicles
Wheelchair Car Conversions
Hoists for Transferring People
 

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