Rehabilitation Equipment Rental Point — An Initiative of the Ternopil City Branch of the Ukrainian Red Cross

This initiative was born out of a real community need. Every day, people reached the organisation seeking rehabilitation equipment such as crutches, walkers, wheelchairs, and beds. For many families, the cost of these items was unaffordable, yet they were only needed temporarily — for example, after surgery or an injury.

This gave rise to the idea of creating a social enterprise: a rehabilitation equipment rental point that helps those in need while supporting the sustainable development of the organisation itself. Through this project, people can rent the equipment they require at an affordable price, and the funds generated are reinvested into other humanitarian activities, including the purchase of food and hygiene products for those facing difficult life circumstances.

This is an example of how a humanitarian mission can be combined with an entrepreneurial approach. The project not only addresses urgent social needs but also strengthens the organisation’s financial independence from external funding sources, making assistance more systematic and sustainable for vulnerable groups.

Special attention is given to veterans, who can use rehabilitation equipment free of charge for up to three months.

The initiative was developed with the support of the REDpreneurUA programme, through which the Ternopil city branch of the Ukrainian Red Cross learned how to design business models, assess social impact, and implement innovative approaches effectively in their work.

Thanks to the rehabilitation equipment rental point, dozens of people have already regained mobility, independence, and confidence in their own abilities.