A UK prosthetics charity, STAND, has recently opened a new rehabilitation centre in The Gambia, West Africa, on Monday 9 February, 2026. This marks a significant milestone in the organization’s mission to provide prosthetic legs to rural amputees.
The new centre, located in the heart of the country, will provide direct access to refurbished prosthetic legs donated from across the globe. This will allow for more responsive follow-up care and reliable rehabilitation services for amputees in rural areas.
The project was a collaborative effort between STAND and The Gambia’s Ministry of Health, with financial support from STAND’s key supporters, including The British School of Paris. This partnership reflects a global commitment to improving prosthetic care for amputees.
Previously, amputees had to travel long distances to the capital to be fitted for a prosthetic leg. STAND and its partners also funded outreach programs that visited rural towns by car. While these efforts were crucial, it was not an efficient or sustainable model.
The opening of the centre was attended by STAND’s Trustee Lucy Gates, The Gambia’s Director of the Department of Social Welfare Allaye Barra, the Gambian press, STAND’s Gambian staff, and the local community.
Tom Williams OBE, founder of STAND, expressed his excitement about the new centre, stating, “This centre brings prosthetic and rehabilitation services within reach of people who have been excluded for too long. Distance should never determine who gets to walk again. When mobility is restored, the barriers that once limited amputees begin to disappear, opening the door to walking, working, and truly thriving.”
Giles Bates, Head of Community and Service at The British School of Paris, also shared his thoughts on the project, saying, “A prosthetic limb can give a child an education, friends, and a future filled with hope. We hope that the BSP’s contribution towards STAND’s new rehabilitation centre in Bansang in The Gambia will help make this a reality for the local community.”
