This week, 14-18 October, marks Community Transport Week (CTWeek24), an exciting opportunity to celebrate the work of community transport providers across our region.
Community Transport operators provide non-profit transport services, offering essential links for people facing additional transport challenges, such as disabilities or even not living near a bus stop. They use a variety of methods, including Dial-a-Ride/Demand Responsive minibus services and volunteer car schemes, where volunteers use their own cars to transport passengers to their destinations.
Community Transport operators deliver an invaluable service for the passengers that depend on them. This is clear in the case of Transport 17, an operator working in Sheffield that specialises in transporting people to and from social events, such as organised lunches. A recent passenger study on the service by the Community Transport Association (CTA) found that the service is highly valued by passengers due to the companionship on board, the friendly drivers, and the support it offers, particularly to those with limited mobility. Transport 17 enhances the quality of life for its users, who highlight the social benefits of the service, such as meeting friends and having a cooked meal, as key advantages.
One passenger said, “The journey is interesting, the company is wonderful, and food is good too.”
Another said that without the service, “I’d miss everybody the company, as I live on my own.”
CTA’s study showed that 69% of Transport 17’s passengers would be unable to attend these social opportunities without the community transport service, demonstrating the importance of Transport 17 in unlocking social opportunities and reducing social isolation.
While Community Transport plays many roles in the North’s transport system, one area particularly worthy of note, as Transport 17 shows, is its important role in tackling Transport Related Social Exclusion (TRSE). Community Transport’s flexible nature makes it well-suited to connecting isolated individuals to vital services like healthcare and education. At Transport for the North (TfN), we recognise the importance of these services in enhancing social equity, ensuring everyone has access to transport regardless of where they live or their personal circumstances.
CTWeek24 is being organised by CTA, their Director for England, Caroline Whitney said:
“Community Transport is a lifeline for many within the community, it can sometimes be the only source of transport enabling people to connect with friends and family and access everyday services where they live. These services are vital in reducing social isolation and so it is important that Community Transport is included within the design and delivery of the transport system for communities. Transport for the North has been a leader in recognising the impact that social exclusion has on individuals and the wider community and has embraced the role that community transport can have in addressing the transport gaps and needs of those in the North. We are really pleased that TfN are supporting CTWeek24 and we look forward to working together to provide accessible and sustainable transport solutions for all within our communities’.”
At TfN, one of our strategic ambitions is to reduce the number of people in the North living in areas at high risk of TRSE, and we know that Community Transport can play a part in achieving this aim.
Tom Jarvis TfN’s Principal Social Researcher, who leads on TRSE research said:
“The community transport sector has a vital role to play in delivering the North’s aspirations for a transport system that works for everyone, and reducing transport-related social exclusion. Many will be familiar with the bespoke transport offer and support that Community Transport provides to disabled people and others with limited mobility, who face a higher risk of social exclusion than other residents. But it also provides safe, reliable, and affordable access to everyday destinations for people across the North, including in urban and rural areas without viable public transport options. This has become all the more important with the loss of local bus services across the region over the last decade – allowing thousands of residents to continue to access work, education, healthcare, and community life.”
This year, Community Transport Week is also about challenging stereotypes and perceptions. Many people associate community transport with rural areas and services for older people, but it encompasses much more. Recent research by the CTA on the state of the community transport sector shows that around a third of operators deliver services in urban areas. The report also shows that community transport supports a wide range of passengers, including children, people experiencing financial difficulties, and in some cases the general public.
If you are interested in Community Transport and want to find out more about CTWeek24, be sure to visit the CTA’s website and social media channels: LinkedIn and X. Also, check out the CTA’s recent report ‘Mapping England: State of the Sector’ to learn more about the sector and keep an eye out for their passenger survey results coming in November. Furthermore, if you want to find more information about Transport 17 visit their website here. and social media channels Facebook and X.