WelcoMe Joins Eleven Innovators Securing ncat Funding to Help Make Travel More Accessible
We always love seeing our friends succeed, but this latest news from Gavin Neate is truly close to our hearts. As advocates for gentle, dignity-first care here at PhysioPod® UK, we couldn't be prouder to see WelcoMe selected on this prestigious list of successful Phase 2 projects.
Gavin and the WelcoMe team are receiving support through the National Centre for Accessible Transport's (ncat) Scaling Innovation programme.
Funded by the Motability Foundation and run alongside the Connected Places Catapult, this initiative is helping eleven funded projects share a pool of over £1 million. This backing will be used to develop and test practical ways to clear away the daily transport barriers disabled people face.
WHAT IS THE "SCALING INNOVATION" PROGRAMME?
This initiative is designed to help promising, evidence-based accessibility ideas progress from early-stage concepts towards real-world testing, practical application, and wider sector adoption.
Sixteen organisations started in April, and eleven have now been selected to progress. These teams are tackling three key challenges across the UK's transport network:
- Improving vehicle stop design
- Enhancing travel assistance services
- Improving access to information
These backed initiatives are highly practical and forward-thinking. Alongside WelcoMe's travel assistance tool, other brilliant ideas include an automated battery-swap system designed to simplify charging for disabled electric vehicle (EV) drivers when using plug-in systems, and an inclusive flight-planning service that allows information about mobility aids to be shared securely with airlines, airports, and ground-handling teams before departure.
Other successful concepts moving into this next phase focus on making journeys easier in different ways, including:
- Accessible journey planning and navigation apps.
- A shared standard for mapping out walking and wheeling routes.
- On-demand support through video kiosks in transport hubs.
- A national approach to finding charging spots for powered wheelchairs and mobility scooters.
WelcomeMe's Role in Supporting Accessible Journeys
WelcoMe is all about taking the anxiety and guesswork out of travel. It is a simple digital tool that lets passengers share exactly what support they need with a venue, station, or airport before they even leave the house.
Instead of arriving and simply hoping for the best, travellers can flag their needs ahead of time. This gives staff the chance to prepare and brief themselves, making the whole journey feel much smoother and restoring a quiet sense of independence.
A Philosophy of Inclusive Co-Design
As Dr Emma Partlow, Chief Executive of ncat, puts it:
"By shaping solutions with disabled people, not for them, Scaling Innovation can contribute to a more accessible transport network."
Steve Pyer from the Connected Places Catapult points out that inventing a clever tool is only half the battle. The real test is getting these projects out onto active transport routes to prove they work in everyday use and are ready to be rolled out nationally.
At its heart, this funding is about giving disabled people the freedom to travel on their own terms. Eliot Mangham from the Motability Foundation says the ultimate goal is making sure everyone has the reliable transport options they need to get to work, attend medical appointments, or simply stay connected to their communities.
Our warmest congratulations to Gavin and Team
Gavin Neate, CEO and Founder of WelcoMe
Gavin has always put the real-world experiences of disabled travellers at the very heart of WelcoMe. We are so happy to see the team receive this backing, and we can't wait to see the app make travel a little easier and more independent for everyone.
We are absolutely thrilled for you, Gavin, from both of us!
Mary and Julie x Sisters and Directors of PhysioPod UK Ltd
