The ambassadors, who are all part of the Motability Scheme, were selected from their 750,000 customers to represent a diverse range of disabilities, backgrounds, interests, careers and most importantly, lived experiences of the Scheme. This includes incredible Paralympians, influencers, authors, entrepreneurs and disability advocates, who will all share their unique perspectives and life experiences.
Through their social media channels, events, and activities where they can liaise directly with customers, the ambassadors will not only help build understanding of the Scheme and its many benefits: they will also aim to reach the hundreds of thousands of eligible people who are unaware of the Scheme and the independent mobility it provides. The ambassadors will also support the transition to EVs, as customers follow their journeys into electric.
The announcement comes after a year-long pilot with triple amputee and Royal Marine veteran Mark Ormrod MBE, who has been a Motability Scheme customer since 2008 following an injury in Afghanistan while on active duty. Over the last year, Mark has been proactively sharing his story and his experiences including a viral post in January which was reshared thousands of times to over 3 million people.
Mark posted about his Scheme car being broken into which resulted in his gym gear and prosthetic legs being stolen. He also noted that due to the Motability Scheme’s worry-free breakdown and car maintenance package, he was able to get his window fixed within 45 minutes plus a courtesy car to minimise disruption to his day. His story helped thousands of customers understand just how seamless the experience on the Motability Scheme can be, especially in a world which can be otherwise challenging.
Author and blind influencer Lucy Edwards will join Mark as a new ambassador. With over 2 million followers across her social media channels, Lucy’s platform will help the Motability Scheme reach new audiences while providing followers with insightful information about its benefits including insurance for three named drivers, RAC breakdown assistance, replacement tyres, and much more.
With Lucy’s husband Ollie at the driver’s seat, the couple provide a different perspective on how they use their Motability Scheme vehicle to access everyday freedom.
Completing the current lineup of ambassadors are:
- Campaigners and fundraisers Paula Hudgell OBE and her son and youngest Scheme ambassador Tony Hudgell BEM.
- Broadcaster and author, Dr Shani Dhanda; recently voted ‘Most Influential Disabled Person in the UK’.
- World and Paralympic Table Tennis champion, and Strictly Come Dancing competitor Will Bayley MBE.
- England’s most capped blind footballer, Paralympian and motivational speaker Darren Harris.
- GB Wheelchair Basketball players, Paralympians and LGBT+ advocates Laurie Williams and Robyn Love
- Fellow GB Wheelchair Basketball player, Paralympian and model Amy Conroy.
- Rookie racing driver Noah Cosby who is part of Team BRIT, an inclusive motorsport organisation and a Motability Scheme partner.
Lisa Thomas, Chief Marketing Officer at Motability Operations, the company which delivers the Scheme, said:
“Our brand ambassadors perfectly demonstrate what the Motability Scheme is all about. We have chosen to work with a range of customers who will help us tell our story about inclusivity and how we champion everyday freedom through the Scheme.
“By our ambassadors sharing their first-hand experiences, we hope we’ll be able to build a wider understanding, while helping to challenge often out-dated perceptions of how disabled people live their lives.”
The Motability Scheme Ambassadors will aim to increase awareness of the Motability Scheme and understanding of how it works, and who it can help, amongst disabled people, and their families and friends, across the UK.
To learn more about the Motability Scheme brand ambassadors and their unique perspectives, visit motability.co.uk/Ambassadors.
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