A police officer who was paralysed in a motorbike accident at the beginning of a holiday has been announced as the next beneficiary of the Seven Families campaign.
Nikki Thornley, formerly a police officer in Aberdeenshire, had set off with her husband for a trip around Europe to mark his 40th birthday.
An accident in the Borders meant they never left Scotland, Thornley spent 11 months and one week in hospital and will never be able to return to her former job.
She hopes to return to work part-time, as an office worker for the police, and has already visited her future office to see what adaptations would be needed.
Her family will receive £1,000 per month along with access to volunteer IFAs, independent living, rehabilitation and counselling services.
Thornley said: "After talking it through with the charity and my employer I'm hoping the Seven Families campaign will help me face up to many of my fears and concerns, particularly seeing myself as a chair user now.
"Any monies will help give me the time and space to be as best as I can before I return to work, and will also benefit my home life as well."
Jason Jaspal, a spokesperson from Disability Rights UK said: "We hear from people daily who have to wait months for assessments (for Personal Independence Payment), while receiving ineffective or no support to resume work.
"This project will help us learn how different it can be when people do have resources, information and access to support on their own terms."
