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Chamber and committees

Wheels to Heal

  • Submitted by: Annie Wells, Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party.
  • Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 January 2023
  • Motion reference: S6M-07673

That the Parliament congratulates Khalid Raza, from Glasgow, on setting up the charity, Wheels to Heal, which is a collaborative group of volunteers and has rescued over 24,000 wheelchairs and disability aids destined for landfill in Scotland and across the UK; notes that the items are upcycled for disabled people overseas who face barriers to mobility; understands that Khalid formed the concept of the charity after the chance discovery of 150 wheelchairs destined for scrap in Glasgow and the realisation that these could easily be recycled and prove transformative for disabled people without access to mobility equipment due to impoverished situations, social stigma, or conflict; understands that the charity has been overwhelmed by requests from charities after advertising the restored chairs online; further understands that Wheels to Heal has sent items to countries, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Gambia, Ghana, Iraq, Lebanon, Pakistan, Palestine, Malawi, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Syria, Uganda, and Yemen; acknowledges that the charity remains entirely voluntary-led and offers a collection service covering all of mainland Scotland and the UK, as well as drop-off points in key hubs; understands that it also runs an uplift service, allowing over 500 care homes across the UK to donate unused, but good quality mobility aids; acknowledges that Khalid was presented with an award by the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, at a Downing Street reception marking Burns Night and showcasing Scottish Culture; believes that these overseas donations are of huge benefit for those fortunate to be given the gift of mobility and some dignity, as well as providing a voice for the millions of disabled people who, it considers, continue to be invisible and face a lifetime of lockdown and barriers to accessing their community, education, employment and fulfilling their dreams.


Supported by: Karen Adam, Clare Adamson, Jeremy Balfour, Miles Briggs, Alexander Burnett, Sharon Dowey, Pam Duncan-Glancy, Russell Findlay, Murdo Fraser, Kenneth Gibson, Maurice Golden, Pam Gosal, Jamie Greene, Dr. Sandesh Gulhane, Craig Hoy, Stephen Kerr, Bill Kidd, Douglas Lumsden, Ruth Maguire, Roz McCall, Stuart McMillan, Edward Mountain, Emma Roddick, Douglas Ross, Graham Simpson, Alexander Stewart, Paul Sweeney, Tess White, Brian Whittle