What we do
Our aim is to be the go-to place for everyone affected by spinal cord injury (SCI), so that we can quickly connect them to the vast network of people, organisations and services they need.
Our vision
We won’t stop until we live in a world where every spinal cord injured person gets the chance to lead a fulfilled life.
50,000 people live with spinal cord injury in the UK
What we do
Every four hours, a person’s life is changed when they sustain a spinal cord injury (SCI). Their world – and that of their family – is turned upside-down.
Our NHS helps put newly injured people on the road to rebuilding their lives; we guide them throughout the rest of the journey.
Our holistic approach to supporting SCI people and their loved ones means we provide the time, expertise and connections essential to making pathways towards a fulfilled life.
Spinal cord injury can be caused by accidents, illnesses and health conditions
Practical support
Life with SCI can look different to that led before injury. Our careers, relationships and even our homes might change. And this isn’t to say that has to be a negative. Essential to getting through the changes is the support of people who have been there before and understand what you’re going through. That’s why our support coordinators are here to support newly injured people even before hospital discharge.
In the financial year 2021-22 we delivered more than 1,400 support sessions to meet the practical and emotional needs of SCI people
Our team of support coordinators can advise on everything from employment, travel, accessibility, housing, finances and more. They can also refer on to more appropriate services if they are unable to help with certain needs or enquiries.
Thanks to our freephone support line, a listening ear is also on the end of the phone for all in the SCI community.
In 2021/22 we listened and helped people on more than 3,000 calls to our support line
Clinical support
Our team of SCI clinical specialists, which includes nurses and an occupational therapist, ensure every SCI person gets the very best care wherever they receive it. The team can advise SCI people and their loved ones on clinical care, such as bowel and bladder management and skin care, and can help create vitally important documents, such as the potentially life-saving emergency care plans.
400 healthcare professionals received training and education from our SCI clinical specialist team in 2021/22
The team also shares its many years of SCI specialist knowledge with other healthcare professionals and people working with SCI people to ensure all receive the treatment and care needed to lead healthy and fulfilling lives.
Emotional support
Our own research revealed the worrying scale of the psychological toll of spinal cord injury, with half of the SCI people in our study saying they had experienced mental health problems. We also know that speaking with someone who can understand what you’re going through is especially helpful in times of need, which is why we offer all in the spinal cord injury community free talking therapies with our specialist counselling service run by SCI people.
Our free SCI specialist counselling service gave 333 sessions to SCI people, as well as helping friends and family, in 2021/22
Amplifying SCI people’s voices
We believe every SCI person has the right to a fulfilled life and should be treated fairly and with respect. We also believe the SCI community should be listened to in the corridors of power where decisions that affect their lives are made – there should be nothing about us without us.
To ensure this happens, we campaign on the issues that matter to SCI people and their loved ones. Among that which we push for are specialised mental health services, a better understanding of how the care crisis affects disabled people and adequate provision of vital specialist healthcare for all SCI people.
We helped 220 SCI people secure NHS continuing healthcare packages to meet their needs, and supported a further 36 people with social care casework
Meanwhile, our advocacy team fights for SCI people to receive the level of care they deserve and that we know is essential to leading a healthy and fulfilling life. Our expert advocates help untangle bureaucratic tape and support people during
assessments to transform their care options.
Forging connections
We know it takes a solid support network to rebuild a life after injury, and our growing network of trusted partners is integral to that. Whatever help is needed, whether it be care, financial planning or legal representation, we bring SCI people and experts in various fields together to forge life-changing connections wherever they are in the country.
How it all started
Susan Cunliffe-Lister, Baroness Masham of Ilton, was one of Britain’s first Paralympic medallists and our president. She became paralysed below the chest following a riding accident in 1958. After her injury, she became aware of the lack of specialist medical care available to all newly injured people and the scarcity of information and advice available after discharge from hospital. Out of these twin concerns, Spinal Injuries Association was founded in 1974.
Baroness Masham who sadly passed away in March 2023 advocated long and hard for health equality and disability rights, especially in her role as a crossbench member of the House of Lords.
Our patron: the Princess Royal
Princess Anne has been a great source of support and encouragement. She became our patron on our 10th anniversary in 1984 and has faithfully supported us as we have grown and developed over the years.
The princess regularly attends our events and was the guest of honour when we opened our HQ, SIA House in Milton Keynes, in 2005.
Our reports and policies
Find out more about the work we do in our reports, including our impact report and research papers. And find out more about the way we work in our policies. Click on the buttons below to read them: