Wheels for Wellbeing

Who we are

Wheels for Wellbeing is a disability and cycling organisation led by disabled people. Established over fifteen years ago, the charity exists to radically change the world and remove barriers to cycling. Formed from the belief that cycling is transformational for health, transport and social inclusion, Wheels for Wellbeing champion mobility justice and mobility equity.

As well as operating cycling sessions for disabled people at three venues in South London, the team focus on removing barriers to cycling for disabled people more generally. Wheels for Wellbeing is driving improvements to cycling infrastructure and the team is actively changing cycling design standards across the UK and in cities across the globe.

Since 2007 our grassroots work has been taking place in leisure facilities, community centres, schools, hospitals and on streets in south London, using our large fleet of bikes, trikes, handcycles, recumbents, tandems and side-by-sides. Our participants are aged 2-102 and live with a range of impairments, health conditions, mental health issues and/or neurodiversity. They all experienced barriers to cycling prior to finding out about the cycling opportunities and advocacy we provide. We call this our Wheels for Life work-stream.

In 2012 a few of us became aware that very few people realised that Disabled people could cycle and that for many, our cycle was far more than a bike, i.e. an incredibly important mobility aid. This lack of understanding was resulting in Disabled people being denied key rights: the right to improve our health by travelling actively; to access green and blue spaces and our local communities, etc. We started communicating with cycle campaigners, transport planners and designers as well as decision makers about the lived experience of Disabled cyclists. We found a real appetite for what we had to say and our Wheels for Change work-stream was born, working to influence cycling policy, infrastructure guidance, etc. at local, national and UK level. Wheels for Wellbeing is regarded as a thought leader in this field.

Our expertise is now widely sought and so we have developed some training and consultancy services. This area of our work is growing and one of our strategic aims it to grow it significantly (into Wheels for Learning) alongside our two other work-streams.

Our funding sources are varied: a combination of Trust & Foundations grants, self-generated income and individual & corporate donations.

Our culture and values

Based in London but also, since 2020 around the UK, the team is small, with big ambitions for growth.  

Wheels for Wellbeing is a disability and cycling organisation led by disabled people. Established over fifteen years ago, the charity exists to radically change the world and remove barriers to cycling. Formed from the belief that cycling is transformational for health, transport and social inclusion, Wheels for Wellbeing champion mobility justice and mobility equity.

As well as operating cycling sessions for disabled people at three venues in South London, the team focus on removing barriers to cycling for disabled people more generally. Wheels for Wellbeing is driving improvements to cycling infrastructure and the team is actively changing cycling design standards across the UK and in cities across the globe.

Since 2007 our grassroots work has been taking place in leisure facilities, community centres, schools, hospitals and on streets in south London, using our large fleet of bikes, trikes, handcycles, recumbents, tandems and side-by-sides. Our participants are aged 2-102 and live with a range of impairments, health conditions, mental health issues and/or neurodiversity. They all experienced barriers to cycling prior to finding out about the cycling opportunities and advocacy we provide. We call this our Wheels for Life work-stream.

In 2012 a few of us became aware that very few people realised that Disabled people could cycle and that for many, our cycle was far more than a bike, i.e. an incredibly important mobility aid. This lack of understanding was resulting in Disabled people being denied key rights: the right to improve our health by travelling actively; to access green and blue spaces and our local communities, etc. We started communicating with cycle campaigners, transport planners and designers as well as decision makers about the lived experience of Disabled cyclists. We found a real appetite for what we had to say and our Wheels for Change work-stream was born, working to influence cycling policy, infrastructure guidance, etc. at local, national and UK level. Wheels for Wellbeing is regarded as a thought leader in this field.

Our expertise is now widely sought and so we have developed some training and consultancy services. This area of our work is growing and one of our strategic aims it to grow it significantly (into Wheels for Learning) alongside our two other work-streams.

Our funding sources are varied: a combination of Trust & Foundations grants, self-generated income and individual & corporate donations.

Based in London but also, since 2020 around the UK, the team is small, with big ambitions for growth.  

Equality, diversity and inclusion policy

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and our team is made up of people with different strengths, experiences and backgrounds, who share a passion for improving people's lives. Diversity includes disability, race and gender identity, but also age, sexual orientation, religion and many other parts of one’s identity. All of our employees’ points of view are key to our success, and inclusion is everyone's responsibility.