National Association For Bikers With A Disability

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £52,959 (in recent financial year)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: 1-2 weeks (after monthly committee meeting)
• Grant Range: £250 - £2,000
• Geographic Focus: UK, Republic of Ireland, Isle of Man, and Channel Islands
• Number of Grants: 74 grants awarded in recent financial year

Contact Details

Registered Address:

NABD Unit 20

The Bridgewater Centre

Robson Avenue

Urmston

Manchester M41 7TE

Contact Information:

• Phone: 0844 415 4849 (Monday-Friday, 9:00am-3:30pm)
• Email: office@thenabd.org.uk
• Website: www.nabd.org.uk

Pre-Application Support:

Contact the Adaptions Administrator for application packs and guidance.

Overview

The National Association for Bikers with a Disability (NABD) was established in April 1991 by six bikers from Stockport and Manchester who refused to accept that disabled people could not ride motorcycles. As a registered charity (Charity No. 1040907), NABD has grown to become the world's leading support group for motorcyclists with disabilities, having helped over 12,000 bikers with disabilities get their bikes adapted to resume riding.

With an annual income of £82,179 and total expenditure of £105,382 (year ending 31 March 2025), NABD operates with six trustees and 25 active volunteers, plus two paid employees (an office manager and an assistant administrator). The organization's unique funding model ensures that 100% of all donations are used for the benefit of disabled riders, with administrative costs covered by membership subscriptions and fundraising activities. In recent financial years, NABD has awarded approximately 74 adaptation grants totaling around £53,000, enabling disabled individuals to return to motorcycling through customized vehicle adaptations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Adaptation Grants: £250 - £2,000

• Financial assistance for adaptations to motorcycles, scooters, trikes, sidecar combinations, and quadbikes
• Grant amount dependent on the type of machine and specific requirements of the rider
• Applications processed monthly on a rolling basis (first Sunday of each month, except May)
• Grants awarded strictly on individual merit

Priority Areas

NABD grants are exclusively for:

• Vehicle Adaptations: Full hand controls, stirrups, foot-plates, seating modifications, automatic transmissions, wheelchair carriers, brake and gear modification systems, and specialist prosthetics
• Purpose: Making motorcycles, trikes, combos, or quads suitable for disabled riders
• Geography: Residents of the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Isle of Man, and Channel Islands
• Beneficiaries: Individual disabled riders who need adaptations to ride motorcycles or similar vehicles

What They Don't Fund

NABD explicitly excludes:

• Insurance costs
• Repairs or maintenance
• Cosmetic engineering
• Adaptations to other types of vehicles (cars, vans, etc.)
• Retrospective grants: Will not reimburse work already completed
• Previous grant recipients where circumstances have not changed

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Governance and Leadership

Leadership:

• Chairman: Rick Hulse
• Trustees: 6 individuals (all unpaid volunteers)
• Staff: Office Manager and Assistant Administrator (2 paid employees)
• Volunteers: 25 active volunteers

Governance:

• All trustees receive no remuneration, payments, or benefits
• Grants awarded by management committee on a case-by-case basis
• Committee meets monthly (first Sunday of each month, no meetings in May)
• Charity reporting is up to date with the Charity Commission

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

• Call 0844 415 4849 or email office@thenabd.org.uk
• Address requests to The Adaptions Administrator
• Include: name, address, telephone number, brief outline of disability and need for grant

• Completed, signed, and dated grant application form
• Completed, signed, and dated VAT declaration form
• Detailed quotation (not estimate) from an engineer on company letterhead (if using professional services)
• Critical: Missing documentation will delay processing

• Upon receipt, applicants receive a grant reference number
• Applications processed in grant reference order unless there are documentation issues
• Important: Do not start work until grant is approved - no retrospective grants are issued

Decision Timeline

• Committee Review: Monthly, typically the first Sunday of each month (no meetings in May)
• Notification: Approximately 1 week after committee meeting
• Method: Written notification by post
• Total Timeline: Approximately 1-6 weeks depending on when application is received relative to monthly meeting cycle

Success Rates

• Specific success rate percentages are not publicly available
• NABD states that grants are “very occasionally” refused
• Recent data shows 74 grants awarded in one financial year
• Common refusal reason: Previous grant recipient where circumstances have not changed

Reapplication Policy

• Appeals are permitted for refused applications
• Must be submitted in writing
• Common refusal reason: Previous grant received and circumstances unchanged
• Applicants will be informed how to appeal when notified of refusal

Application Success Factors

Documentation Requirements:

• NABD emphasizes providing a detailed quotation (not an estimate) on company letterhead
• All forms must be completed, signed, and dated
• Missing documentation causes delays - ensure completeness before submission

Timing Considerations:

• Applications are processed in grant reference order (first-come basis)
• Do not begin work before approval - NABD will not reimburse completed work
• Plan ahead: factor in monthly committee meeting schedule

Eligibility Focus:

• Each application is “dealt with individually and strictly on its own merit”
• Grants must be for genuine disability-related adaptations, not cosmetic improvements
• Clear demonstration of how adaptations will enable riding is essential

Post-Approval Requirements:

• Applicants must return a satisfaction form with photographs of completed work
• Engineers receive separate confirmation and completion forms
• Compliance with post-approval requirements is mandatory

Additional Services Available:

• NABD offers free advice on adaptations, insurance, licensing, VAT exemptions, and legal issues
• Learner/loaner scheme: Try adapted controls at Manchester office before committing
• Two trikes with full hand controls available for test rides (suitable for wheelchair users)
• Consider utilizing these resources before applying to ensure adaptation suitability

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Complete documentation is critical: Missing paperwork causes delays. Ensure all forms are signed, dated, and accompanied by detailed quotations
• Do not start work early: NABD does not issue retrospective grants. Wait for approval before beginning adaptations
• Applications processed monthly: Submit early in the month to be considered at the next committee meeting (first Sunday, except May)
• 100% funding model: All donations go directly to disabled riders, demonstrating NABD's commitment to maximizing grant impact
• Utilize free advisory services: Contact NABD for advice before applying to ensure your proposed adaptation is appropriate and eligible
• Geographic scope is broad: UK, Republic of Ireland, Isle of Man, and Channel Islands residents are all eligible
• Appeals are possible: If refused, you can appeal in writing - understand the reasons for refusal and address them in your appeal

References

• NABD Grants Information -
• NABD About Page -
• Charity Commission Register - Charity 1040907 -
• NABD Grant System Information -
• NABD Membership Portal -
• Charity Choice - NABD Profile -
• BikeSure Article - NABD Charity -