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The Motability Scheme
Motability is a national UK charity, which helps disabled
people and their families to become more mobile. It was set
up on the initiative of the Government in 1977, to provide
vehicles and powered wheelchairs to disabled people. The first
Motability vehicle was supplied in 1978 and since then more
than 1.28 million cars and powered wheelchairs have been provided.
The Motability Scheme now has more than 390,000 customers
driving, or being driven on the road to freedom.
How
the scheme works
Special terms have been arranged with motor manufacturers,
banks and insurers so that today a variety of schemes can
be offered to enable disabled people to become mobile.
Motability offers three different schemes to help disabled
people obtain a vehicle. These are:
- A Contract Hire Scheme for new vehicles
- A Hire Purchase Scheme for new vehicles.
- A Hire Purchase Scheme for used vehicles.
Motability also offers a Hire Purchase Scheme for powered
wheelchairs and scooters.
Once a customers has chosen which scheme they wish to join,
they then agree to pay over all, or part of their mobility
allowance (DLA or WPMS), depending on their choice of vehicle,
for the duration of their contract hire, or hire purchase
agreement.
Grant Aid for Motability
A Motability Scheme vehicle is much more than just a means
of transport for a disabled person - it is a passport to the
outside world, the chance to go to college, to have a job
and to live life to the full.
Many people who rely on the Motability Scheme need financial
help to pay for adaptations, or a larger vehicle to suit their
particular disability, which they desperately need, but could
not otherwise afford.
The Motability Charitable Fund provides grants to pay for
such things as hand controls, swivel seats, automatic transmission,
wheelchair hoists, Advance Payments and special driving lessons.
Last year, the average Charitable Grant award cost Motability
£493, but it can actually cost a great deal less to
provide real, lasting benefit to a disabled person.
Every donation received is vital income. For example, just
£15 could buy an additional mirror and help a disabled
person with restricted upper body movement drive safely.
If you would like to help a disabled person by making a donation
to Motability's Charitable Fund, please send whatever you
can afford, to Motability Fundraising, Goodman House, Station
Approach, Harlow, Essex, CM20 2ET.
For further
information call the Customer Information Services on 01279
635666.
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