About JAPES

JAPES — Joëlette and People Experiences — exists for one simple reason: nobody should have to sit on the sidelines of the outdoors.

We use the Joëlette, a specially designed off-road wheelchair, guided by a small team of volunteer runners or walkers, to help people with mobility challenges take part in everything from parkruns and mass participation events to genuine mountain summits. The person we're supporting — our Pilot — sits at the centre of the experience; our volunteers provide the legs.

What we do

JAPES brings together Pilots, their families or support workers, and volunteer crews to take on events together. Some are gentle 5K park routes; others have taken us to the top of Ben Lomond, Ben Nevis, and Mount Snowdon; numerous mass (and small) participation half-marathons and 10Ks. Whatever the terrain, the goal is the same: a genuine shared experience, not a spectator's view of one.

Who it's for

JAPES welcomes Pilots of all ages and a wide range of mobility needs and disabilities. A parent, carer, or support worker attends alongside every Pilot, staying nearby throughout the event to look after their usual care needs, and to advise us on those needs — while our trained volunteers take on the physical job of guiding the Joëlette. You don't need to run, walk the route, or take part in the activity itself; you're there for your Pilot, not the course.

Our volunteers

None of this happens without the people who have turned up, event after event, to push, guide, and cheer. No experience is needed to get involved — just a willingness to be part of someone's day, and to follow the policies and code of conduct we ask of everyone who volunteers with us.

Where we are now

JAPES is based in Scotland, and this October marks our 10th anniversary. After a period of pause, we're relaunching with a renewed focus — the same spirit that carried our first Pilots across finish lines and up mountains, now built on a stronger foundation for the years ahead.