James Brown ‘’Inspiring Speaker’
21st November 2025
Mobeloo is providing reassurance for disabled people across the UK.
In 2015, following a long successful sporting career, James Brown (originally from Northern Ireland) who had taken part in five Paralympics and several World Championships, within a range of sports including running, cycling and cross country skiing (under the tutoring of Eye Matter’s Patron Mike Brace) decided to finally remove his trainers to pursue a different pathway !
James founded Mobeloo in 2015, ensuring respect and dignity is provided for disabled people attending festivals such as Glastonbury and events at the Royal Albert Hall. He was taking part in Eye Matter’s “Inspiring Speakers’ session (Friday 21st November) to talk about his hopes to expand Mobeloo across the UK. This service provides a portable, self contained unit with a hoist, adult changing mat and enough space for carers to support the disabled person. An assistant is provided to ensure each unit is maintained and delivered safely to events on a trailer. Over 250,000 disabled people struggle to access toilets outside their homes. One Eye Matter wheelchair user expressed her appreciation when she had used a unit whilst attending a festival.
James was born with toxoplasmosis which his mother contracted through an agricultural accident whilst he was still in the womb. Despite being initially diagnosed totally blind at birth his sight began to return when he was about two years old. In the late 1960’s early 70’s there was very little support available in local schools and set against a tumultuous background of the religious conflicts within Northern Ireland his parents were advised to send their five year old son to a specialised school for blind and deaf children. Eventually he was sent across the water to attend Worcester School for the Vlind where he excelled in mathematics and sport. Through running he was able to channel his anxieties around sight-loss and also, start his sporting career in the New Yoirk Paralympics(1984).
Despite having only 2% of his sight James continues to manage Mobeloo from his caravan beside the sea in Devon surrounded by nature. For more information about Mobeloo and if you would like to become involved in this social enterprise please click here: