Spinal Injuries Association (SIA) have been supporting those with spinal cord injuries in the UK for over 50 years. Earlier this year we were delighted to partner with them to support their vital work. As our partnership develops, we thought it was a good time to share some more information with you about this fabulous charity. We spoke to Emma, the business and enterprise coordinator.
What is the mission of SIA?
Every two hours, someone in the UK sustains a life-changing spinal cord injury (SCI). This can lead to paralysis, chronic nerve pain, and loss of bladder, bowel, and sexual function. Their lives, and the lives of their families and friends, are forever changed. SIA exists to support the 105,000 people living with SCI in the UK today.
Spinal Injuries Association (SIA) was founded in 1974 by Susan Cunliffe-Lister, Baroness Masham of Ilton. She was paralysed from the chest down during a horse riding accident at just 23-years-old. After discovering the lack of support for people with SCI, Baroness Masham went on to found SIA, the first national association to serve people with SCI and to give advice and information to help them live a fulfilled life.
More than 50 years on, SIA is the UK’s expert guiding voice for life after spinal cord injury. We aim to reach everyone with a SCI, help them tackle whatever barriers they face, and connect them with the support and services they need to flourish in their lives, in whatever way they want or choose.
What different types of support does SIA offer?
SIA’s support starts when a person is newly injured and continues for the rest of their life.
SIA’s freephone support line acts as the gateway to all our other services. Our experienced team guide members through whatever help they need.
Our regional Support Network Coordinators, assisted by a set of dedicated volunteers, all live with spinal cord injury. This makes them uniquely qualified to support our members. They provide practical advice on all aspects of life with a SCI, as well as connecting members to trusted partners, and delivering more than 25 community groups across England, Wales and Northern Ireland every single month.
SIA’s team of specialist clinicians are here to ensure every person living with SCI gets the very best care. They offer advice, help complete vitally important documents, and ensuring carers are trained to the highest standards.
Our specialist counselling service supports not only those living with SCI, but also their family, friends, and caregivers by offering up to 10 free online or telephone sessions. All our therapists have lived experience of spinal cord injury and are fully qualified, registered members of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) or equivalent.
A new, exciting part of our support is our podcast, ‘I Didn’t Plan on This’. Released in February 2026, this podcast was created to give voice and visibility to people whose lives are shaped, directly or indirectly by spinal cord injury. We were delighted to learn that it recently won podcast/audio campaign of the year at the UK Content Awards! It’s fantastic to see the raw and honest experiences recognised in this way.
What do you enjoy most about your role with SIA?
I feel very lucky to work alongside so many amazing people, all doing brilliant things for our community. I have made friendships that will last a lifetime and couldn’t be more grateful to work for such a fantastic organisation.
Beyond that, my main responsibility is to look after our newest social enterprise and online shop, SIA Lifestyle. This currently has 13 fantastic brands offering exclusive discounts on a range of products and services, with every sale generating a donation to SIA. From clothing and footwear to accessible holidays, innovative mobility aids, and home adaptations. This includes Active Hands, with members being able to save 10% across the whole range, with another 10% donated to the charity!
SIA Lifestyle has been such an exciting project to work on over the past year. I couldn’t be more proud of how far we’ve come in 12 short months.
My main piece of work right now focuses on developing a brand new website just for SIA Lifestyle. This project has been incredibly rewarding, and I cannot wait to share it with you all. Watch this space!
Can you share a story that exemplifies the support SIA offers individuals?
In October 2022, John Palak was at work loading a machine with a heavy weight when he felt an intense pain in his neck. He couldn’t move or feel his body and knew something was wrong. With the support of SIA, John is slowly regaining his independence after sustaining a spinal cord injury which left him with partial paralysis from the neck down.
Before SIA, John’s injury had isolated him at home and impacted his mood and confidence. John didn’t have the hand function to push a manual wheelchair. When home alone, he would often fall over, being left stuck on the floor and unable to get back up.
John then met SIA’s Support Network Coordinator Brendan Fitzgerald, who invited him to attend SIA’s Litchfield community group. John said meeting others with spinal cord injury made him feel like he wasn’t on his own and that there were people he could turn to.
Brendan also referred John to SIA’s Clinical Nurse Specialist, Karen Briggs, who transformed the care he was receiving. She set up a bowel and bladder routine, helped him get treatment for his pain and a stair and bathroom rail installed at home. She also liaised with wheelchair services to get John an automatic chair to help him regain his confidence.
“Last year, I went on holiday for the first time since sustaining my injury. I wouldn’t have had the confidence to go without Karen and Brendan’s support. They have given me the information and support I need to have a fulfilling life with spinal cord injury. SIA gives people their lives back.” – John Palek, SIA Member
What does the future hold for SIA?
SIA’s Rebuilding Lives Conference returns on Thursday 1 and Friday 2 October 2026. Here, we bring together the spinal cord injury (SCI) community. We give people the chance to learn more about the impact of SCI and explore how the sector can work together to achieve improved outcomes for life after injury.
Our upcoming challenge events include the Superhero Triathlon on Saturday 15th August, and the Accessible Adventure Challenge on Friday 18 or Saturday 19 September. Both challenges are completely accessible and open to people with any disability.
For those wishing to connect with the SCI community, SIA’s monthly community groups offer help across the country. These include Greater Manchester on 3rd July, Cambridge and Oxford on 13th July, and Cornwall on 29th July. Members can find their local community groups here.
Finally, SIA always has ongoing campaigns, working with government to tackle issues often faced by those with SCI. Some current campaigns include our Accessible Housing Campaign and our Women’s Health Campaign.
How does Active Hands support those with SCI?
Our business, activehands.com, was founded by Rob after he sustained a spinal cord injury 30 years ago. Using his engineering knowledge and lived experience, Rob has personally designed many of our products.
These solutions to everyday tasks enable Rob, and others with spinal cord injury all over the world, to live active, adventurous and independent lives. Take a look at our gripping aids that are suitable for those living with SCI here.
We are very pleased to be able to support the vital work that SIA carry out. As a partner, Active Hands offers all SIA members 10% off our whole range. And for each sale made via SIA Lifestyle, Active Hands will send a further 10% to SIA to support their future work. Find out more here.
Jo Smith
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