Supporting People After Amputation – In Conversation with ‘Amputation Foundation’

Amputation Foundation is a long-standing charity partner with Fletchers Solicitors; supported directly with our serious injury solicitor, Julia Eyton. Recover. Rebuild. Thrive.

Julia Eyton, Partner and Serious Injury specialist, is a leading figure in her field. Her ambition to provide expert guidance and support for those affected by limb loss from serious injury has led her to work closely with the charity Amputation Foundation. Julia has a long-standing commitment to helping injured clients rebuild their lives and is passionate about ensuring that people have access to practical, emotional, and legal support throughout their recovery.

On behalf of Julia, we recently chatted with Deborah Boardman, Trustee of our charity partner, Amputation Foundation about they work they do supporting people after amputation. Deborah has been a supporter of Amputation Foundation since its inception, having been acquainted with one of its founders through a family connection. She is passionate about supporting amputees, and her commitment to the charity’s operations,  means that front line workers are able to focus on helping people when they need it most.

What we cover in this Q&A:

• How Amputation Foundation supports amputees with peer mentoring, emotional care, and practical guidance

• The vital role of support hubs and buddy programme

• Advice for families, carers, and life-long support for amputees

• Common challenges after limb loss

• Recovery, identity, and what “thriving” looks like

• Real-life testimonies from members

• Their partnerships with Fletchers Solicitors

• How society, workplaces, and services can better support amputees

About Amputation Foundation & their role

Q: Can you briefly explain who Amputation Foundation is and the support you provide to people living with limb loss?

A: Amputation Foundation was initially set up to provide “Peer Support via Lived Experience” to the amputee community.

The founder of the charity recognised the importance of Peer Support via Lived Experience inspired by a visit from a bilateral amputee in Australia when he was recovering from his own bilateral amputation following a major RTC.

When he returned to the UK, he struggled to find people from the amputee community to get support from and over time and various attempts to find an appropriate community group, he decided to set up Amputation Foundation.

Practical support for amputees:

• Guidance on legal support via the Sponsorship Panel
• Help navigating benefits and entitlements
• Advice on employment or returning to the workplace
• Signposting for practical solutions, including car and home adaptations via the Partnership Network

Support Hubs:The Charity has a number of support hubs that meet either weekly or monthly where people can join in and meet with other amputees.

These groups support each other with practical tips and guidance for amputees, including:

• Wound care and managing phantom limb pain
• Navigating the healthcare system, from physiotherapy to prosthetic centres
• Managing life with a new prosthetic
• Handling “firsts”, such as going to the supermarket or driving again
• Travel advice, both locally and for holidays

Buddy Programme for amputees: Amputation Foundation also have a buddy programme which is suitable for amputees who require a bit more 1-2-1 care and attention.

“Have A Go” events for amputees: The charity arranges get togethers to encourage people to try new things as an amputee:

• Stand & Sit skiing
• Walking Tennis
• Assisted Machine exercise
• Para-Badminton

We also organise flagship annual events:

• April/May: Whitewater Rafting
• September: Adventure Weekend in the Lake District

Recovery journey for amputees

Q: At what stage of an amputee’s recovery journey do people typically reach out to Amputation Foundation, and how does that charity support them at that stage?

A: People contact Amputation Foundation at different stages:

• Pre-op: Individuals know in advance about their amputation and need preparation support, which then naturally evolves to post-op support.
• Post-op or in-hospital: Contacted by individuals or their families who experience an unexpected amputation, support begins with hospital visits and continues at home.
• Early recovery (first 6 months): We are often contacted by people who are in their first 6months of life as an amputee, are desperately trying to find a community to get involved with.

We assess each individual case and assign a support category depending on the level of support deemed to be required.

1. Core Volunteer: In-person visits and ongoing Buddy support for 3–6 months.
2. Buddy Volunteer: One-to-one guidance until the individual feels ready to join a support hub.
3. Support Hub: Individual provided with all of the details of the relevant support hub and invited to join

The importance of external support for someone recovering from an amputation.

Q: Why is external support beyond medical treatment so important for someone recovering from an amputation?

A: Once someone is deemed fit for discharge from hospital, the level of care and attention they receive can vary dramatically, it is a bit of a “postcode lottery.” The services available across the country differ widely, largely driven by economic factors, or, more bluntly, by who can afford them and who cannot.

Amputation Foundation cares deeply about supporting amputees irrespective of their status. We are passionate about the fact that there is life after amputation, provided that the amputee is given that support through the first 12-18 months.

Our work helps prevent social isolation, foster better habits, and stop people from giving up on what’s possible simply because they convince themselves it’s impossible.

We’re incredibly proud of our members, who, through their own lived experience, demonstrate that almost everything is possible. True to our motto, “Seeing is Believing,” we showcase these inspiring individuals through our Groups.

Over 90% of our employees and volunteers are amputees themselves – hence our focus on peer support via lived experience.

Q: What difference does early emotional and practical support make?

A: A huge difference!
The sooner we can start to influence, advise, and encourage, the better the outcome. People often find it difficult to retrain their brains to focus on what they can or might be able to do if they’ve already spent 12 months convincing themselves that everything is too hard.

We aren’t suggesting that everyone can become a Paralympian, even encouraging someone to attend a coffee or tea morning to meet fellow amputees is a win!

Q: How do charities and community organisations complement NHS and clinical care for amputees?

A: We occupy the gaps! If money and time were no object, all medical professionals would want to do more, but reality is they often can’t.

We are frequently contacted by physiotherapists for support when someone isn’t scheduled for another appointment for 6–8 weeks. Sometimes GPs can’t get a referral for counselling for 12 months or more.

In these situations, where there’s a real risk the person could struggle or spiral, we step in to fill the void.

What support is available for amputees?

Q: What types of support does Amputation Foundation offer?

A: We provide a range of support, including:

• Emotional support
• Peer mentoring
• Rehabilitation guidance, based on lived experience
  (AF does not employ qualified rehabilitation professionals, though we have previously run chair-based exercise classes when funding allows r when we are lucky enough to find someone to run them voluntarily)
• Advocacy
• Employment advice

Employment support for amputees:

One of our strategic growth plans is in the area of employment. Our Operations Director, who worked for nearly 30 years in HR and recruiting, is keen to develop a Return-to-Work Programme for people who would like to get back into the workplace.

Q: Is support from Amputation Foundation available years after amputation?

A: Yes. AF membership is for life.
Amputees have life-long challenges, such as phantom limb pain or prosthetic use.

Across a lifetime, an amputee may have times when they do not need us as much, but we are always here when they do. We have people who have been attending our activities for over five years. Many of these members are now part of our buddy or volunteer programmes, and the circle of support continues from there.

Q: Can families and carers also access guidance from Amputation Foundation?

A: Yes, they can register via the website and we will get back to them.

They can also contact us by phone on 01744 808850 or via our mobile number, which is monitored for both calls and WhatsApp: 07942 493783.

They can also connect with us through Facebook and LinkedIn.

Challenges faced by amputees

Q: From your work with amputees, what are the top five challenges people commonly face after limb loss?

A: No one amputee is the same as another. While some of the questions and concerns they have may be similar, the order in which they arise will depend on a wide range of circumstances, from personal situation to socioeconomic status to geographical location.

Every amputee’s experience is individual, but the top five challenges often include:

1. Psychological: Fear, panic, depression, and anger.
2. Financial: Income loss and supporting their family.
3. Relationships: Concerns about forming relationships or starting a family.
4. Practical and physical: Work prospects, holidays, and daily tasks such as shopping and driving. Prosthetic and wheelchair use. Understanding what they will or will not be able to do, potential impacts on life expectancy, and overall health.
5. Confidence and social isolation: Issues with clothing, public perception, social reintegration, and challenges such as changing at a leisure centre, swimming pool, or gym. Concerns about whether people will still invite them to social activities.

Q: Are there any challenges that are often underestimated or misunderstood by people who haven’t experienced amputation themselves?

A:

• Initial fear and panic: The mind-blowing fear and panic felt initially by a new amputee is overwhelming. Without someone with actual lived experience to answer questions, this fear can take hold in a very negative way.
• Assumptions about prosthetics: At the other end of the scale, people often assume that once someone has a prosthetic leg, “the job’s a good’un,” and that the amputee will be able to simply carry on with their new limb.
• Physical impacts: People frequently underestimate the strength it takes to learn how to walk again, as well as the other impacts of having a prosthetic, such as stump sores and blisters. This means there will be times when the amputee needs to stay off their leg and spend time in their wheelchair.
• Phantom limb pain: Phantom limb pain is another challenge that is often not considered until it is explained to them.
• Why peer support matters: We completely forgive people, including medical professionals, who might underestimate what it is like to live with limb loss. That is why we focus on peer support via lived experience, because it is what we feel works best for the amputee community.

How individuals might Recover, Rebuild and Thrive

Q: What does “thriving” look like?

A: Recovery is not linear, so what thriving looks like will vary depending on the individual.

For someone whose goal is to return to playing golf, thriving might be getting back on the golf course.

For another person whose goal is to feel confident travelling independently, thriving might be taking their first bus journey on their own.

Ultimately, we define thriving as beginning to communicate openly about limb loss and its challenges with fellow amputees without feeling completely bewildered. Thriving is about accepting that being an amputee is the new normal and recognising that there is life after amputation.

Q: Can you share an example of someone whose journey reflects recovery, rebuilding, and thriving?

A: This is a recent testimony from one of our members.

Leaving the consultant’s room with tears in our eyes and total apprehension about what may come, AF’s leaflet in our hands, and an unknown number of questions, we tried to search and guess what might come.

A couple of days passed with conflicting information on the internet, so we called the number on the leaflet. What a breath of fresh air! The friendly, reassuring voice that met us was so helpful.

That first phone call changed our course on this journey, giving us reassurance that life could become normal again, albeit different.

We joined the Amputation Foundation, and pre-op anticipation was given a little clarity, along with questions to ask the consultants pre-op. The help and support for both me and my husband was the turning point in my journey.

Post-op, the support and information continued. Kirsty, Debs, Steve, and all the members gave me the reassurance and comfort that you need. They envelop you in warmth and answers to all your worries, giving you further questions to ask post-op.

The weekly meetings help build my confidence and knowledge with the help of other members’ experiences.

The Foundation cannot be thanked enough for the initial and continued support throughout my pre- and post-operation journey. Now, sixteen weeks into my recovery, I feel more comfortable with the extended knowledge and support given to me by this collective of volunteers and members.

Advice & reassurance for amputees

Q: What advice would you give someone recently amputated?

A: We would encourage them to get in touch with Amputation Foundation. We can help formulate a plan tailored to their specific needs and questions.

Beyond that, our advice would be to talk to someone, anyone, about how you are feeling.

Most importantly, do not give up on life. The worst thing someone can do is withdraw into an isolated world based on their own fears, misconceptions, and assumptions.

Q: What advice for families and loved ones?

A: Contact Amputation Foundation for guidance.

Support is available to help families understand the journey and address specific concerns.

In 2026, our online support hub will introduce a monthly session specifically for family members, friends, and carers. While family and friends already attend our weekly Online Support Hubs, we recognise the value of having a dedicated session where they can speak openly about their own concerns and worries in a supportive environment.

Partnerships and looking ahead

Q: Why are partnerships with law firms important?

A: Our partnership with Fletchers Solicitors is critical, not only in terms of sponsorship, but also for advocacy and raising awareness.

As one of our longest-standing legal partners, Fletchers has supported the Charity in a number of meaningful ways, including:

• Attending Support Hubs
• Attending key activities and events
• Helping to raise the profile of the Charity
• Fundraising and supporting fundraising activities
• Supporting non-claim casework through their own foundation
• Advising on programmes the Charity is developing for the long-term benefit of members
• Providing pro bono support where relevant and possible

We take great pride in working with Fletchers because of the level of care and support they provide to our members, going above and beyond legal representation alone. It gives us peace of mind knowing that anyone we signpost to Fletchers is properly supported throughout what can often be a lengthy and complex legal process.

Q: What changes would you like to see in how society, workplaces, or services support people living with limb loss?

A: This is a huge question, and we feel there are many areas where we would like to see change.

In time, we plan to run campaigns on behalf of people living with limb loss. Our aim is to work constructively with policymakers, healthcare providers, and local authorities to influence improvements in services and support.

Some of the key areas include:

1. Prevention: There is not enough education around what people can do to avoid amputation, particularly in clinical cases rather than injury-related amputation.
2. Earlier and better intervention: Improved physiotherapy services, higher-quality early care, and broader access to better prosthetics would significantly improve mobility and general health. This, in turn, could reduce repeat health issues, prevent the development of additional conditions, and ease pressure on the NHS.
   
3. Equality of care: There needs to be a consistent, basic level of care provision across England and Wales. The current postcode lottery is deeply concerning.
4. Local authority support: There should be a core minimum standard of support. At the very least, no one should have to wait twelve months for a basic ramp to access their home while still using a wheelchair.

Q: How can people get involved and access support?

A: Support is accessible via:

• Contact Amputation Foundation
• Get Involved
• Email: [email protected]
• Call: 01744 808 850 / 07942 493 783

Q: If there’s one message you’d like every injured amputee to hear, what would it be?

A: “It might not feel like it right now, but… there is life after amputation.”

Recover. Rebuild. Thrive

At Fletchers, we understand that life after amputation involves more than legal support.
Amputees also need practical, emotional, and community. Through partnerships with charities like the Amputation Foundation, we help clients recover, regain independence and have a future lived well.

Find out more about how we support amputees and others affected by serious injury.