MOTABILITY
Helps disabled people to make journeys by providing access to transport, and working to make transport more accessible. Oversees Motability Operations to deliver the Motability Scheme and provides grants to Scheme customers. Provides transport-related grants to charities and organisations. Carries out research and innovation to make transport more accessible now and in the longer-term.
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that total resources fell slightly to £2,167m as total expenditure exceeded total income and gains, resulting in a net movement in funds of a fall of £12.5m. Free reserves reduced by £72m to £318m, representing 2.5 years' prospective spend, which is in line with the general fund reserve policy of holding between two and three years' spending.
What the accounts disclose
“For this reason, the Motability Foundation will normally hold between two and three years’ spending to cover the risks (and opportunities) of volatility in income and expenditure.”
“In addition, for 2025, £7.7m (2024: £5.2m) was received from Motability Operations as rebates, where customers terminated their lease agreements early, in respect of grant awards towards Advance Payments and adaptations managed by Motability Operations.”
“As at 31 March 2025, £0.4m (2024: £0.3m) was due from MEL to the Motability Foundation as a qualifying distribution under Deed of Covenant.”
“In addition, for 2025, £7.7m (2024: £5.2m) was received from Motability Operations as rebates, where customers terminated their lease agreements early, in respect of grant awards towards Advance Payments and adaptations managed by Motability Operations.”
“As at 31 March 2025, £0.4m (2024: £0.3m) was due from MEL to the Motability Foundation as a qualifying distribution under Deed of Covenant.”
“In addition, for 2025, £7.7m (2024: £5.2m) was received from Motability Operations as rebates, where customers terminated their lease agreements early, in respect of grant awards towards Advance Payments and adaptations managed by Motability Operations.”
“As at 31 March 2025, £0.4m (2024: £0.3m) was due from MEL to the Motability Foundation as a qualifying distribution under Deed of Covenant.”
“At 31 March 2025, the pension fund’s assets and liabilities were £16.1m and £16.5m (2023/24: £17.0m and £18.1m) respectively, resulting in a deficit of £0.3m (2023/24: deficit of £1.1m).”
“The Charity has a wholly owned trading subsidiary, Motability Enterprises Limited, which is incorporated in the UK.” — page 74
Corporate structure
- Trading subsidiary: MOTABILITY ENTERPRISES LIMITED Companies House 01786053
- Turnover: £2.5m
- Profit before tax: £378k
- The company provides trading activities on behalf of its parent undertaking, Motability Foundation.
Leadership, per the charity’s website
- Nigel Fletcher — Chief Executive
- Charles Manby — Chair
- Ed Humpherson — Vice Chair
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/03/2025)
Trustees
- Charles Manby MBEchair
- Ceri Ivor Daniel Smith
- DAVID HUNTER
- Dr Juliana Onwumere
- Ed Humpherson
- Hannah Barham-Brown
- JACKIE DRIVER FRSA OBE
- MERLYN VIVIENNE LOWTHER
- Michael James Harrison
- PROFESSOR WILLIAM WEBB
- Richard Cartwright
- Tony Davis
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/03/2025 | £54.2m | £143.8m |
| 31/03/2024 | £60.9m | £143.2m |
| 31/03/2023 | £240.4m | £129.0m |
| 31/03/2022 | £183.7m | £86.7m |
| 31/03/2021 | £10.2m | £62.0m |
Common questions
Is MOTABILITY financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that total resources fell slightly to £2,167m as total expenditure exceeded total income and gains, resulting in a net movement in funds of a fall of £12.5m. Free reserves reduced by £72m to £318m, representing 2.5 years' prospective spend, which is in line with the general fund reserve policy of holding between two and three years' spending. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by BDO LLP.
Who funds MOTABILITY?
Funders whose own accounts filings name MOTABILITY as a grant recipient include THE JEANNINE VASSILIOU CHARITABLE TRUST, THE SIR EDWARD LEWIS FOUNDATION.
Known funders
| Funder | Year | Amount | Purpose (as stated by the funder) |
|---|---|---|---|
| THE JEANNINE VASSILIOU CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2023 | £1k | |
| THE SIR EDWARD LEWIS FOUNDATION | FY2022 | £1k | Mobility solutions for disabled people |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| THE TULA TRUST LIMITED | 2 | £6k |
| CARETECH CHARITABLE FOUNDATION | 1 | £187k |
| THE STEVEN BLOCH IMAGE OF DISABILITY CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £182k |
| THE JOHN R. MURRAY CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £99k |
| THE LOWER GREEN FOUNDATION | 1 | £90k |
| THE LYNDAL TREE FOUNDATION | 1 | £45k |
| THE PATRICK & HELENA FROST FOUNDATION | 1 | £35k |
| PEACOCK CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £27k |
Charities like this
- THE MOTIVATION CHARITABLE TRUST
- EXETER COMMUNITY TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION
- COMMUNITY TRANSPORT
- DRIVING MOBILITY
- CORNWALL MOBILITY CENTRE LIMITED
- EREWASH COMMUNITY TRANSPORT LIMITED
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MOTABILITY | £54.2m | — | — | within | — | no doubt |
| THE MOTIVATION CHARITABLE TRUST | £4.0m | — | 2 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| EXETER COMMUNITY TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION | £132k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| COMMUNITY TRANSPORT | £2.0m | — | — | below | — | noted |
| DRIVING MOBILITY | £2.0m | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| CORNWALL MOBILITY CENTRE LIMITED | £1.2m | — | — | below | — | no doubt |