News story: New minibuses to improve rural mobility

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Community groups across the country have today (7 April 2017) been awarded funding to buy new minibuses to help keep people on the move.

Forty disability, patient, children and school groups will get a new vehicle after winning part of £2 million in the second round of the £25 million Community Minibus Fund.

The minibuses, which will have up to 16 seats, will improve the lives of people in rural areas by providing crucial links to shops, social events and medical services.

Transport Minister Andrew Jones said:

Community transport is vital for people in rural areas, helping them reach shops, hospital appointments, loved ones, friends, jobs and education.

We have so far provided 300 minibuses in the first round of the £25 million Community Minibus Fund and they are already improving lives of people up and down the country.

These extra minibuses will give a further boost and make sure the public can access the places and services they want.

The competition was run with the Community Transport Association (CTA), the membership organisation for community bus operators across the UK.

Bill Freeman, CTA chief executive, said:

The Community Transport Association was thrilled to facilitate this second round. These vehicles will make a massive difference to the people and communities they will serve, opening up access to educational and social activities, employment and vital public services.

We are really pleased that this government has been prepared to invest in community transport in such a visible way and we’re already seeing the benefits of this from the first round of the Community Minibus Fund.

The winning groups can be found below:

Name of Organisation Local authority (upper tier) Region
Disability Direct Derby East Midlands
Hadhari Project Derby East Midlands
ASR Community Bedfordshire East of England
Bishops Stortford Mencap Hertfordshire East of England
Boxing Futures Limited Peterborough East of England
CHEXS Hertfordshire East of England
Families United Network Bedfordshire East of England
Southend Mencap Essex East of England
Centre 404 Islington Greater London
Katherine Low Settlement Limited Wandsworth Greater London
Edenham High School Croydon Greater London
Age UK Gateshead Ltd Gateshead North East
DERIC (Durham Education Resource In The Community) Youth Bus Project Durham North East
St. Michael’s Youth Project Hull North East
Appleby Heritage Centre Limited Cumbria North West
Bendrigg Trust Cumbria North West
Manchester Community Transport Greater Manchester North West
Ykids Sefton North West
14th Canterbury Scout Group Kent South East
Action4Youth Buckinghamshire South East
BACT Community Transport Limited East Sussex South East
Cancer United West Sussex South East
Commonwork Trust Kent South East
Ramsgate and Broadstairs Unit 441 of The Sea Cadets Kent South East
Sheppey Matters Kent South East
Test Valley Community Services Hampshire South East
Tonbridge Baptist Church Kent South East
Woodpecker Wood CIC Kent South East
Bideford and District Unit 35 of the Sea Cadet Corps Devon South West
Community Equality Disability Action Devon South West
Concern Wadebridge Cornwall South West
Ivybridge & District Community Transport Association Devon South West
SEDCAT Dorset South West
Weymouth Sea Cadets Dorset South West
38th Walsall (1st Walsall Wood) Scout Group Walsall West Midlands
Dore Community Transport Herefordshire West Midlands
Boys and Girls club South Yorkshire Sheffield Yorkshire and Humber
Goole & District Community Transport Group East Riding Of Yorkshire Yorkshire and Humber
Lady Lumley’s School North Yorkshire Yorkshire and Humber
St George’s Lupset Ltd Wakefield Yorkshire and Humber

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