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| There are an estimated 20 million people in need of a wheelchair; the vast majority live in developing countries. Worldmade is a global programme to supply large numbers of appropriate wheelchairs through a network of wheelchair services all over the developing world. |
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Worldmade takes our core values of providing individually fitted, high quality, appropriate wheelchairs and combines this with the advantage of economies of mass production to reduce costs and meet demand. All wheelchairs are prescribed, assembled and fitted by trained local technicians through our local partner service centres.
Worldmade wheelchair: Worldmade's aim is to distribute 10,000 wheelchairs a year. The Worldmade products provide a level of quality, durability and appropriateness far beyond what is currently available. Every wheelchair comes with a pressure relieving cushion to prevent life threatening health complications and give lasting benefit to each disabled person using the wheelchair. The Worldmade Rough Terrain wheelchair is the first product in the range and has been in production since 2005. The wheelchair is currently being distributed to wheelchair users through our local partners in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Papua New Guinea, East Timor, South Africa, Angola and Zimbabwe. The Worldmade Active Folding wheelchair is the second product of the Worldmade range and is due to go into production by the middle of 2008.
Wheelchair Services and Training: An absolutely essential part of wheelchair provision is the assessment, prescription, fitting and follow up service. Our Fit for Life training courses have been strengthening the skills of local organisations to enable disabled people to be healthy and independent.
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| We train local people how to assemble the Worldmade wheelchair so that each wheelchair fits each disabled person properly |
Assessment, prescription and fitting is the key to ensure that the wheelchair promotes independence and good health |
International Committee of the Red Cross wheelchair trial: Angolan trial users give feedback on comfort & suitability of the design |
Progress to date: Worldmade containers have been delivered to our partner wheelchair services in Southern India, Nepal , Sri Lanka , Papua New Guinea, East Timor, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Angola. The most recent recipient is our partner organisation in East Timor called ASSERT. Staff from ASSERT attended the Fit for Life training at Mobility India in July 2007. Their Worldmade wheelchair service has been in operation since October following delivery of their 20ft container of WM3 wheelchairs.
The Worldmade programme continues to gain interest from major international humanitarian organisations. Throughout 2007 we ran a series of wheelchair and postural support training courses to expatriate staff of a major international NGO and delivered three 40ft WM3 containers. A successful three month trial of the WM3 took place in the Philippines with Handicap International and we are currently running a trial with the Indian Spinal Injuries Centre in Delhi.
Over the last year Motivation has been in dialogue with a major wheelchair distribution organisation from the USA. The potential for us to work in collaboration and have a dramatic impact on the global need for appropriate wheelchairs could be vast. We will be focusing on this collaboration in 2008.
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The Worldmade programme is currently supported by a number of UK Trusts, Foundations and companies including the FourAcre Trust, the Diana Memorial Trust, Kingfisher and B&Q.
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