John has been driving since 1961. For him, driving has always meant one thing above all else: freedom.

Earlier this year, John was diagnosed with Parkinson’s and vertigo. These conditions made moving around extremely difficult, and even using a manual wheelchair became a daily struggle. Eventually, John had to stop driving altogether—a loss that deeply affected his independence and quality of life.

John contacted Herts Ability after being referred by social services. He was looking for a way to drive again and regain the confidence that comes with it.

From the very start, John felt supported:

“They were brilliant, very kind and thoughtful. I felt very relaxed during the assessment. Afterwards, I felt very relieved.”

John underwent an assessment to identify his specific needs and was subsequently awarded support through the Driving Assessment Grant (DAG) to help fund the adaptation of his vehicle. This adaptation included the installation of a hoist, enabling John to safely lift his wheelchair into the car.

The impact has been life-changing:

“The hoist helps, as I can now go out by myself. It has made things much easier and has had a very big positive impact on my confidence.”

Without the grant, John would not have been able to proceed with the adaptation. Today, he is back on the road and enjoying the freedom he thought he’d lost.

John encourages anyone in a similar situation not to hesitate:

“Go for it! It will make your life much easier.”

He also recommends Herts Ability to others:

“I would most certainly recommend Herts Ability, as they were very helpful.”

If you or someone you know is struggling to drive due to a medical condition or disability, the friendly teams across our accredited assessment centres are here to help you find the right support and solutions – so you can reimagine your mobility and independence.

The latest Powered Wheelchair and Mobility Scooter (PWMS) training event took place at the QEF Assessment Centre in Carshalton. The session formed part of our national initiative to improve road safety and ensure that customers receive the right advice and support when purchasing or hiring powered mobility vehicles.

The free training process involves two online modules, followed by a practical half-day workshop at a Driving Mobility assessment centre. During the in-person session, participants engage in desk-based learning as well as hands-on product training, both aimed at promoting safer mobility and ensuring that customers feel confident and well-supported.

This most recent event in Carshalton was attended by a wide range of mobility retailers, each keen to develop their skills and deepen their understanding of customers’ needs. The feedback from delegates was overwhelmingly positive:

“Fantastic course, allowing for a better understanding of the cognitive issues of ageing.”
— Billy Hunter, Manager, Sun Mobility, Reading

“The course reassured me that we do a good job — but it was really good to have some conditions explained practically to gain a better understanding.”
— Jenny Richardson, Business Manager, M & J Mobility, Southampton

“Very informative. I have over 30 years’ experience in assessing powered wheelchairs, and I learned invaluable information.”
— Matt James, Director, Precision Rehab Ltd, Hampshire

“Very useful to have a more clinical approach to assessing customers’ needs.”
— Spencer Hadden, Sales Director, Orange Badge Mobility, Lewes

All retailers who complete the training receive a certificate and become an accredited PWMS retailer, recognised by Driving Mobility and the Department for Transport. This not only demonstrates their commitment to customer safety and independence but also reassures the public that they are purchasing from trusted, knowledgeable providers.

We would like to express our gratitude to QEF for hosting the event, as well as to the retailers for their enthusiastic participation and commitment to improving standards within the industry. Together, we can assist more individuals in maintaining their mobility, safety, and confidence.

Find a PWMS Retailer and apply for the course

Learn more about and apply for PWMS training or find your nearest PWMS retailer. Alternatively, find your nearest Driving Mobility assessment centre.

We are pleased to share that the Hubs Mobility Advice Service is now being delivered at a regional level through our network of accredited independent driving and mobility assessment centres.

The Hubs service was created to offer free, impartial travel advice for individuals with disabilities, medical conditions, or age-related mobility challenges. It supports people in exploring accessible transport options and finding alternatives to driving — helping them stay mobile, independent, and connected.

Thanks to its proven value and impact, a number of Driving Mobility’s independent centres are now providing Hubs advice locally. These centres will continue to offer tailored guidance to meet the diverse needs of individuals in their respective regions:

• North East Drive Mobility – Covering County Durham, Cumbria, Northumberland and Tyne & Wear
• QEF Mobility Services – Serving South London, Surrey, West Sussex, Berkshire, Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight
• Cornwall Mobility – Supporting Cornwall and Devon
• Chester DriveAbility – Providing support across Cheshire and the Wirral

With their dedicated teams and in-depth regional knowledge, these centres remain committed to helping individuals explore public transit, community travel schemes, mobility equipment, and more — all with the goal of supporting independent, informed travel.

Find our more information on our new Hubs Mobility Advice Service page.

Driving Mobility, the charity dedicated to providing help and advice to disabled and older people on safe independent mobility, is excited to announce the launch of a new driving simulator project.

In accordance with a Motability Foundation ‘Reducing Barriers to Driving Programme’ three-year grant totalling £595,000, and in partnership with SimFit2Drive, the project will see the introduction and development of adapted driving simulator technology at five Mobility Centres across the UK.

Driving Mobility accredits a network of independent and NHS ‘fitness to drive’ assessment centres across the UK. The centres routinely undertake assessments, conducted by a qualified clinician (generally an Occupational Therapist) together with an Approved Driving Instructor, aimed at helping drivers of all ages and abilities to gain, regain, or retain the ability to drive safely.

Keith Roper, Driving Mobility COO, said: “The introduction of driving simulators with adapted controls into the Driving Mobility network is a truly exciting prospect. Replacing old and outdated static assessment rigs, the new ‘static sims’ will play a key role in overcoming the barriers to driving that some people, including those with disabilities and health conditions, encounter.

Find a Mobility Centre

For more information, advice or to book an assessment, please use our postcode finder to locate your nearest Mobility Centre.

At 73, Brian Phillips from Flitwick in Bedfordshire, has kept his independence thanks to essential car adaptations funded by a Driving Assessment Grant (DAG) and the support of Herts Ability, part of the Driving Mobility network.

Brian, a retired electrical contractor now lives with his daughter Lisa. His wife of 40 years sadly passed away five years ago.  Driving has been a part of Brian’s life for 53 years. He used to drive around the UK for work and since retirement, it has helped him remain independent. Two years ago, Brian had two transient ischemic attacks (TIA) and has gradually lost the use of his left hand. Brian swapped his manual transmission car for an automatic, but his daughter Lisa was still concerned about his driving.

Lisa found the Herts Ability ‘fitness to drive’ assessment centre on-line and got in touch to see if they could help. The admin team at Herts Ability booked an assessment for Brian at their Luton satellite centre, where he met Sarah Wright (occupational therapist) and James Hinkins (lead driving assessor).  Brian’s assessment went well. He was introduced to a steering aid, with a remote keypad for the secondary controls and within minutes grasped the concept.

Brian completed the assessment safely and described the drive as ‘brilliant and fun’, stating that James had even helped to improve his driving standard.  Once the assessment was complete, Brian set out to have his own car adapted but, the cost was too high and, without the DAG, he would have struggled to find the funds.

The DAG provided by Driving Mobility have been funded by Motability Foundation. The DAG grants assist disabled drivers who are not Motability Scheme customers. The grant can help towards the costs of a driving assessment, vehicle adaptations and familiarisation lessons at a Driving Mobility Centre.

Brian filled in a brief application form with the help of James and, within days, his grant application was approved. Brian says that with the help of Herts Ability, Driving Mobility and this very generous grant, he can maintain his independence. “I would like to thank all the wonderful staff at Herts Ability for their outstanding service. Their knowledge, professionalism and care are clear to see. I’d recommend Driving Mobility’s network of Mobility Centres, such as Herts Ability, to anyone needing support with their independence and would urge them not to feel nervous”

#DrivingMobility

Andrea James from North Tyneside who lives with a disability, has been given back her freedom to drive through a grant for specialist driving controls funded by the Motability Foundation, with assessment support from Driving Mobility.

The Driving Assessment Grant (DAG) is a grant funding scheme provided by the Motability Foundation and administered by Driving Mobility to assist disabled drivers who are not Motability Scheme customers. The grant can help towards the costs of a driving assessment, vehicle adaptations and familiarisation lessons at a Driving Mobility Centre.

As a national charity and supported in England by the Department for Transport , Driving Mobility accredits a network of ‘fitness to drive’ and equipment assessment centres around the UK that support clients who self-refer or are sign posted from the DVLA, Motability, NHS and the Police. Through the expert guidance of their clinicians, including occupational therapists, and Approved Driving Instructors, individuals with restricted mobility are assessed and the most appropriate driving controls are recommended from a clinical point of view. Andrea originally contacted the Driving Mobility centre at the Walkergate Park Hospital called North East Drive Mobility. The Mobility Centre advised Andrea about her driving requirements and also recommended she applied for grant funding from the DAG scheme.

Andrea explains her story: ‘I stopped driving a manual car in 2020 as I have a condition called neurofibromatosis which affects my nerve endings. This has resulted in me losing the sensation in my legs and feet so I was having to rely on the speedo more and more to gauge how much pressure I was applying to the accelerator. I was at the hospital for an appointment, and someone told me about Driving Mobility’s services. I went to see the Mobility Centre in 2023 and they were able to assess me and come up with recommendations. As the loss of feeling in my legs was going to get worse, they suggested an under ring on the steering wheel for acceleration and a push brake hand control. I got my head around using the controls quite quickly, but then I had to start saving for the equipment.”

Andrea managed to save half of the money required to get her car adapted however the rest was proving impossible to achieve. Being in part-time work, and with the cost-of-living crisis as well as her unpredictable health, Andrea couldn’t afford the adaptations and was having to accept a loss of independence which was damaging her mental health. It was only when the Driving Mobility centre mentioned the DAG that it all changed – getting back to driving could once again be a possibility. The centre helped Andrea with her application, which was successful. She was awarded the funding and arranged for a local conversion specialist to adapt her car within one week. Combined with several familiarisation sessions at the Driving Mobility centre, Andrea was back on the road in January and now life is a little easier.

In conclusion Andrea says: ” Being able to drive again is amazing. It means I don’t have to rely on my husband to take me to work or pick me up. I just take the car and can get to the shops independently. My husband doesn’t need to keep stopping what he’s doing to help me. I would definitely encourage everyone to apply for the grant if they are in a similar situation to me.”

“I only learnt to drive when I was 40 but for many more people who have driven all their lives, suddenly not being able to drive is a massive trauma. I know that if you have a physical disability it can affect your mental health too, especially if you can’t get out. I have had also surgery to have tumours removed and this, too, affects my wellbeing. Being able to drive is a massive thing which helps keep me positive and working.”

Jackson Bogle, 19 from Seaforde in Northern Ireland, has passed his driving test with one arm thanks to specialist tuition from Disability Action (accredited by Driving Mobility) and received a Driving Assessment Grant (DAG) from the Motability Foundation to fund his car adaptations.

Jackson Bogle works as a gym fitness instructor and customer service advisor in Belfast. He approached the charity Disability Action early in 2024 regarding specialist driving tuition. Disability Action, also based in Belfast, is accredited by the charity Driving Mobility which coordinates ‘fitness to drive’ centres across the UK. These centres assist drivers with restricted mobility who either self-refer or are signposted for assessment from the NHS, Motability, DVLA/DVA and the Police.

Jackson wanted to obtain his driving licence and as he has one arm, he sought professional guidance from the Occupational Therapists and Approved Driving Instructors who work for Disability Action. Through their guidance and a grant from the Motability Foundation, he received funds to cover costs of adaptations to his car and familiarisation sessions, so driving independently for the first time could be a reality.

Jackson starts his story: “I found out about Driving Mobility a different way for sure. A family member knew one of the team at the Belfast centre. I got in touch with them about learning to drive through specialist support. I needed a car with steering controls that would allow me to drive safely with one arm. They had vehicles at the centre which cater for me, so I went along to find out more. It was during this time I was told me about the DAG grant. I was amazed and took up the offer.”

DAG is a grant funding scheme provided by the Motability Foundation and administered by Driving Mobility to assist disabled drivers who are not Motability Scheme customers. The grant can help towards the costs of a driving assessment, vehicle adaptations and familiarisation lessons at a Driving Mobility Centre.

Jackson learnt to drive in a car fitted with a ‘Smart Steer’ Bluetooth steering ‘lollipop’ attached to the wheel. This advanced steering knob incorporates buttons for secondary controls such as indicators, windscreen wipers and headlights. This means Jackson can always keep his hand on the wheel. With the help of Disability Action, he passed his driving test first time but still faced the challenge of driving independently in his own car. Jackson was therefore ‘over the moon’ to learn that a grant could fund the supply and fitting of the required adaptations to his own car as well as familiarisation sessions. Without this grant, he would have had to save for a long time to afford the equipment and during this period, driving would have been impossible.

Are you looking for a grant to help with the costs of a driving assessment and vehicle adaptations? Click here to find out more about how to apply: https://www.drivingmobility.org.uk/useful-information/driving-assessment-grant/

#MyDrivingMobility

National charity Driving Mobility, has been awarded a significant three-year Motability Foundation grant, to work with DriveAbility Scotland to continue to expand its vital driving assessment services in Scotland.

Driving Mobility coordinates a network of charity-funded and NHS centres across the UK which provide clinically-led ‘fitness to drive’ assessments, guidance on mobility equipment and accessible travel advice. Supported by The Department for Transport (DfT) in England, Approved Driving Instructors (ADIs) and Occupational Therapists (OTs), guide and support individuals who self-refer or are signposted from the DVLA, the Motability Scheme, Police and NHS. Every member of staff is committed to enabling people with disabilities to drive or travel safely.

Opened in 2021, DriveAbility Scotland was the first Driving Mobility centre to support Scottish residents. It is now a registered charity in Scotland. The centre in Glasgow established a fleet of dual controlled cars with various specialist driving adaptations so clients could be assessed and given recommendations. However, funding to keep the service open had become a challenge and there was a risk of closure, until the Motability Foundation  offered a substantial grant to Driving Mobility

This funding will ensure services are sustained until 2027 and have allowed the charity to implement and plan:

• Expansion to full time services at new headquarters in Glasgow
• Develop new centres and outreach services outside the Central Belt
• Purchase new vehicles and fit with adaptations, including a drive-from-wheelchair option
• Recruit and train more staff
• Update IT systems

Andrew Swain, DriveAbility Scotland Centre Manager, comments: “The team and I are absolutely delighted with the £1.5 million that Motability has granted us. As the future of our services were in jeopardy, along with the independence of disabled Scottish drivers, we had to reach out to this valued stakeholder. Driving Mobility and Motability have always worked closely together to achieve common goals and this latest investment reiterates our strong relationship.”

“The funding will deliver significant change in Scotland. Not only will it bring services closer to more communities, but it will also strengthen our proposition in terms of assessment adaptations and vehicles. Ultimately meaning more people are enabled with all the mental health and well-being benefits it provides. Our team has a renewed sense of vigour.”

Andrew also adds: “While the Motability Foundation funding will enable us to build up a network of services across Scotland, we will need the support of the Scottish Government to keep the service viable in the longer term.  If the model of funding support built up by the Department for Transport in England could be replicated by Transport Scotland it would ensure that we can continue to support disabled and older drivers across all regions of Scotland.”

This positivity has been reiterated by Lisa Jones, Motability Foundation Director of Charitable Operations, who concludes: “We’re delighted to award Driving Mobility with this grant to expand its driving assessment services in Scotland, so that disabled people interested in learning to drive have the tools they need to do so. Awarding grants to experienced organisations like Driving Mobility helps us to make an immediate difference to the transport needs of disabled people.”

#MyDrivingMobility