A charity that has supplied wheelchairs and other disability aids to communities across the world for more than 30 years has closed its UK office citing \u201cfinancial pressures\u201d.<\/p>\n
In announcing the decision Motivation says that the past year has been \u201can incredibly challenging year for charities worldwide\u201d with the charity adding that \u201clike many in our sector\u201d it has \u201calso been significantly affected\u201d. <\/p>\n
A reduction in wheelchair sales is a chief concern and has meant that the charity has had to \u201curgently rework our financial mode\u201d.<\/p>\n
This has prompted it to close the Bristol based UK office and accelerate its \u201cshift to fully independent offices in Africa and India. <\/p>\n
It will also no longer supply wheelchairs through its Motivation Direct company. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe closure of the UK office was more rapid than planned, but it is not the end of Motivation,\u201d said the charity.<\/p>\n
\u201cMotivation India and Motivation Africa will continue to grow in strength and impact and we ask for your continued support as they lead our disability inclusion mission forward.\u201d<\/p>\n
It added: \u201cFor more than 30 years, Motivation and its partners, funders, customers and supporters have transformed the lives of hundreds of thousands of disabled people. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve delivered wheelchairs, built training and peer networks, championed disability rights, and helped shape global standards that ensure high-quality, safe, appropriate, life changing mobility products.\u201d<\/p>\n
The charity warned that due to \u201cturbulence for international aid\u201d it is \u201cfearful for the future of disability inclusion programmes and ask everyone involved in development projects not to abandon the community of people who will be struggling hardest at this time.\u201d <\/p>\n
It is calling for more investment in \u201csustainable programmes that are steered by the communities they serve to meet disabled people\u2019s right to mobility, and all the other rights that unlocks\u201d. <\/p>\n
The charity\u2019s India and Africa teams will be led by directors Peter Mbuguah and Mahesh Chandrasekar. <\/p>\n