My WAV is essential to my education and career

Josh tells us about the essential part his VW Caddy Drive From Wheelchair has played in his life. Without driving, he wouldn’t have been able to study at university and achieve his qualifications.

“I had my first Sirus Drive From Wheelchair vehicle – the VW Caddy Drive when I was 18 years old; I also learnt to drive in this car. I had ‘Space Drive’ driving adaptations fitted to my WAV, and I found learning to drive pretty easy with my bespoke driving controls.

Being able to drive is life-changing and you don’t realise what an essential part of life it is. Studying IT Management and Business at the University West of England, I used my car every day to drive to and from campus, do shopping, etc. Without a WAV, I wouldn’t have been able to study at university and achieve my qualifications. I had my first Sirus VW Caddy Drive From Wheelchair vehicle for five years. My WAV was so important to me, as I had to drive to my job placement and interviews all around the country.

drive from wheelchair

I would be unemployable without driving

In 2017 just after I graduated, I took delivery of my second Sirus VW Caddy Drive From Wheelchair vehicle. I had started working at Hewlett Packard in Bracknell, so again, I needed to be able to drive to and from work. I worked in cyber security for three years managing multi-million pound projects. My journey was a 45–50-minute drive each way, and using public transport was impossible. Without my Sirus Wheelchair Accessible Car, I wouldn’t have been able to fulfill the role. Furthermore, I would be unemployable without driving – many jobs I considered at the time stated that I required a car for the position.

The birth of Able Move

In 2018 I started my own business as I was ready for a new challenge. In the same year, I won the UK Disabled Entrepreneur Awards ran by the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation and Leonard Cheshire receiving £30,000 for my business. Following the awards, Sir Stelios, the Founder of easyJet, showed an interest in my company and invested in helping get the business off the ground.

I launched Able Move – and I developed a range of award-winning products to assist disabled people travelling by air, keeping wheelchairs dry from the water after swimming, and leg straps and harnesses. Running my own business, I need my Sirus car to drive to exhibitions and client meetings all over the UK.

Shooting for Team GB

I took up shooting in 2017. I have to travel quite a lot for training, so in my Sirus VW Drive From Wheelchair vehicle, I transport all of my shooting equipment, shower chair, hoist, luggage – it can all fit perfectly in the back of my Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle. Over the last four years, I have worked extremely hard, and I am now part of the Team GB Talent and Development Pathway Programme. I drive to training at the shooting range which is an hour away. Without my car, I wouldn’t be able to develop my shooting to this level and attend all my training sessions.

If you are driven and ambitious, you need a vehicle

I have never had any issues with my Sirus car. I’m delighted with the service, and the team at Sirus has always been great! If you are driven and ambitious, you need a vehicle to make things happen! Driving has been essential to my education, career, and shooting.”

Josh Wintersgill, Founder and CEO of Able Move.