Motoring: accessing opportunities with Sirus Automotive

Sirus Automotive tell us about their Drive From Wheelchair solutions and customer, entrepreneur and founder of Able Move, Josh Wintersgill. shares his experience. Josh learnt to drive in his VW Caddy and has been a Sirus customer since he was 18. 

“Being able to drive is life-changing, and you don’t realise what an essential part of life it is,” highlights Josh. “I had my first Sirus Drive From Wheelchair vehicle when I was 18 years old and I 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.” 

Achieve

Sirus design a range of WAVs to drive including the popular VW Caddy 5 Drive From Wheelchair/Upfront Passenger solution. Based on the same elements that underpin the VW Golf, this is the first time the VW Caddy Maxi Life has ever shared its basic engineering with passenger car models.

“Without my Drive From Wheelchair vehicle I wouldn’t have been able to study at university and achieve my qualifications,” reveals Josh. “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 and other things, and I had to drive to my job placement and interviews all around the country.

“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,” remembers Josh. “I would be unemployable without driving – many jobs I considered at the time stated that I required a car for the position.” 

In 2018 Josh launched Able Move, he 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. Along with work, Josh also needs a vehicle to pursue his hobbies.

Develop

“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 Caddy,” enthuses Josh. “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, an hour away.

“Without my car, I wouldn’t be able to develop my shooting to this level and attend all my training sessions. Driving has been essential to my education, career, and shooting.”

Sirus’ latest VW Caddy is designed to enable you to drive from your wheelchair and switch to upfront passenger whilst on your journey. The interchangeable front seats enable you to share the driving. The conversion can seat up to four people, with two rear fold down seats. The conversion also offers exceptional interior headroom (147cm/58”).

Sirus Automotive provide free home demonstrations UK wide. All vehicles are available on the Motability Scheme and they provide an adaptations service and a full warranty and service on all WAVs. Approved Used WAVs are also available. Find out about the summer promotion and save £3000. Visit the Sirus Automotive website to find out more. 

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