Future of disabled-led motoring charity at risk, as it celebrates 100th anniversary

By Tom McDonough

A disabled people’s motoring organisation has warned its future is at risk, even as it has been celebrating its 100^th anniversary.

Disabled Motoring UK (DMUK) is set for a “crucial” board meeting on 23 February where trustees will discuss its future.

Margaret Oldham, DMUK’s chair, told Disability News Service yesterday (Wednesday) that its situation was “fairly serious”.

She said: “We are in a difficult financial situation, and have to find some solutions.”

Over the last 100 years, DMUK has campaigned successfully for driving licenses for disabled people and the creation of the blue badge and Motability schemes, and for exemptions from vehicle excise duties, VAT on some adapted vehicles and congestion charges for disabled motorists.

But it now fears that the support it provides, and its campaigning work, are viewed as less important than services offered by other charities.

DMUK said the “significant challenges” created by the transition to electric vehicles – and the ongoing issues around parking, blue badges, disability benefits and smart motorways – meant it had a vital role to play.

One option is to put together a funding bid to help disabled people – already struggling with the cost-of-living crisis – in the move towards electric vehicles, which Oldham said was a “big issue” for DMUK’s 16,000 members.

She said: “Like most charities, we have found funding very difficult over the past few years.

“People are supporting so many desperate charities like those helping Ukraine, or mental health charities, cancer charities or Children in Need, that DMUK is not seen as being vital to support.

“But with the importance of electric vehicles at the moment, plus the everlasting issues we face on parking, blue badges, disability benefits, smart motorways and such like, we do not want to have to close.”

She said DMUK has had an “immense” influence over the last 100 years, enabling disabled people to be mobile, “which in many cases has enabled employment, independence and enjoyment”.

DMUK was created in 2011, having changed its name from Mobilise, which itself was formed in 2005 by a merger between the Disabled Drivers’ Motor Club (DDMC) and the Disabled Drivers’ Association (DDA).

DDMC was formed in 1922 by a group of amputee First World War veterans, and it focussed initially on recreational driving and vehicle testing before taking on a more direct campaigning role, winning the right for disabled people to hold a driving licence in the 1930s.

DDA was originally formed in 1948 as the Invalid Tricycle Association (ITA), and as motorised “trikes” were phased out in favour of minicars and other vehicle adaptations became possible, ITA widened its remit and changed its name to the Disabled Drivers’ Association in 1963.

DMUK has concentrated in recent years on issues such as the proper enforcement of the blue badge scheme, accessible parking standards and the transition to electric vehicles and clean air zones.

It is focussing significant resources on supporting disabled people in the transition to electric vehicles, with the government banning the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles from 2030 onwards as part of its effort to cut carbon emissions and combat the global heating emergency.

DMUK says the transition will create significant challenges for disabled motorists because of the high cost of purchasing electric vehicles and the inaccessibility of many electric charge points.

It provides practical advice and information on matters such as vehicle choice while also campaigning on the independent use of charging equipment and the lack of accessible charge points.

Meanwhile, abuse of blue badges and accessible parking bays triggers more complaints by DMUK members than any other motoring issue.

Heidi Turner, DMUK’s communications and campaigns director, said: “People who commit these offences are robbing genuine blue badge holders of their independence by taking up a parking space they aren’t entitled to use.

“Proper management and enforcement by parking operators and local authorities is vital in protecting the scheme for genuine users.”

This news story is part of an ongoing Disability News Service series that highlights the vital work of the UK’s disabled people’s organisations

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