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Celebrating three years of our landmark grant to ncat

Publish date: 

Lisa Jones, Chief Operating Officer

At the Motability Foundation, our work is driven by a clear vision — to ensure disabled people can make the journeys they choose freely and with confidence.

Transport opens doors to work, education, healthcare, family and community life, yet we know that disabled people still make far fewer journeys than non-disabled people because of barriers that simply shouldn’t exist.

That’s why we’re investing in bold ideas, innovation, partnerships and research to close that gap.

One of the ways we’re doing this is through the National Centre for Accessible Transport (ncat). It’s bringing real evidence and lived experience together to show what needs to change so that accessible transport becomes the norm, not the exception.

This summer, we were thrilled to launch our new five-year strategy to build transport equity for disabled people. But for me, this moment isn’t just about what’s ahead for the Motability Foundation but also about reflecting on the steps that got us here. One of the most pivotal came three years ago, when we awarded our largest-ever grant – a £20 million investment over seven years – to create an evidence centre for accessible transport.

The creation of ncat as that evidence centre was more than just funding. It was a bold statement from us to close a crucial gap in transport accessibility.

Why ncat?

Our research found that while the transport needs of disabled people are diverse, to our knowledge there was no evidence centre in the UK or globally that focused exclusively on disability and transport. This then rippled to a lack of understanding among policymakers and industry of ‘what works’ in disability and transport due to a lack of holistic evidence.

What makes ncat powerful is its evidence-led approach; instead of simply highlighting problems, it brings together robust research, lived experiences and collaboration across the transport and policy sectors to build solutions that last.

ncat brings a combination of academic insight, lived experience and industry expertise, delivered by a brilliant consortium of partners – including Coventry University, RiDC, Designability, Connected Places Catapult, Policy Connect and WSP – with a strong focus on engaging policy makers to translate research into real-world impact.

What’s been achieved in three years?

A lot can happen in three years when you have clarity of purpose. Here are just some of the highlights I’m proud of:

  • Ground-breaking research to fill the evidence gap in transport accessibility: ncat has published reports tackling everything from understanding gaps in transport accessibility data to investigating and supporting local government capacity to deliver accessible transport with disabled people. This evidence has already engaged government and industry. For instance, ncat and its Policy Commission was acknowledged in the UK Government’s response to a Transport Committee report and its work has been mentioned in RIA’s ‘The Journey to Equality: Creating a Railway for All’ report and the ‘UK Connected and Automated Mobility Roadmap to 2035’.
  • Community of Accessible Transport (CAT) panel: set up in 2023, the panel now has over 3,240 members. Disabled people, carers, charities and sector works are all feeding in their lived experiences, and their voices are shaping the future of transport access. This unique panel have been involved in most of ncat’s research projects and members of the panel also took part in reviewing and validating the Centre’s Theory of Change.
  • Accessible Transport Policy Commission: chaired by Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, the Commission is bringing together disabled people, industry leaders and policymakers to find common ground. It’s a vital step towards ensuring transport policy is guided by evidence and lived experience. One of its key achievements is the creation of the Accessible Transport Charter, committing local councils to work to eliminate barriers to travel for disabled people.
  • Resource Collection: for the first time, evidence on transport accessibility is in one place. This searchable database – already with 650+ resources – makes it easier than ever for policymakers, providers and innovators to use what we already know to make change happen.
  • Funding programme: launched with Connected Places Catapult, the Scaling Innovation programme is funding SMEs and organisations developing practical, real-world solutions to transport barriers. The first cohort began in March 2025, and the second round is already underway.

Looking ahead

Our new five-year strategy is about digging deeper and addressing the root causes of transport barriers and working alongside others to address them. ncat plays a huge part in helping us bring this strategy to life.

It’s where research meets real experience — a space that brings together disabled people, transport providers and policymakers to share insights and shape solutions that actually work. By grounding everything in evidence and lived experience, ncat helps us see the bigger picture: what’s changing, what still isn’t and where we can push further to make transport genuinely inclusive for everyone.

Today, as we mark three years since ncat’s grant award, I feel incredibly proud of how far the Centre has come and excited for what’s next. By working closely with ncat and their newly appointed CEO, Emma Partlow, I’m confident we can move even closer to a future where all disabled people can make the journeys they choose, freely and confidently.