| Running
a minibus and volunteer
car scheme for the benefit of local residents has been an
ongoing project of ICVS / Good Neighbours for many years (see
below). With the arrival of a Transport Co-ordinator and the subsequent
increase in activity, the decision was taken to establish the
project as an independent organisation. This happened in November
2004. The project now has charitable status and its own management
committee. They are free to concentrate on transport issues and
the daily running of the organisation.
The organisation has 100 group
members with passenger ages ranging from 3 months to 90+ years.
The number of passengers transported by bus or car in 2002 was
approximately 2,800. This rose to around 3,400 in 2003 and 5,400
in 2004, and has increased steadily to approximately 6,500 in
2007. The types of journey vary enormously: from short runs around
the Ilkley district, to day trips to the Yorkshire and Lancashire
coasts, the Lake District and neighbouring counties. We have also
organised holiday transport for people with disabilities.
History
of the Community Transport Scheme
The organisation has run minibuses
under the Good Neighbours banner since 1977, initially with the
help of a legacy from a local benefactor. Our vehicles are available
for hire by community groups in our defined area of operation,
ie, Ilkley, Addingham, Burley-in-Wharfedale and Menston. During
2000 the project handed back its second bus following the conclusion
of a contract with the local authority. This left just one bus.
The consequence of this was a significant fall in hire income
in 2001.
In 2001, against a backdrop of
falling bookings and an operating loss, the committee reviewed
the project. It considered the increasingly stringent Health and
Safety requirements, along with the time, cost and responsibility
involved. However, a survey of user groups showed the evident
value our passengers derived from the services. It was decided
to appoint a paid co-ordinator to oversee minibus operations,
to ensure Health & Safety standards were met, and to seek
opportunities to expand the services provided. A new charging
structure was also agreed.
Ian Padley started as co-ordinator
for the project on April 1st 2002. Part of the cost of this post
was met by a grant from the Countryside Agency. In return for
this, the project was required to establish a weekly shoppers
trip for the elderly and disabled in Addingham. In addition,
the project took on the role of training and assessing drivers
to the nationally recognised ‘MiDAS’ standard. This
was beneficial from a ‘Health & Safety’ aspect
and also helped attract new volunteers.
The last few years has seen significant
growth in passenger numbers and journeys undertaken. After a successful
fundraising campaign the project acquired an additional 11 seat
‘fully accessible’ bus and booking levels continue
to increase.
The project was successfully
floated off from Ilkley & District Council for Voluntary Service
on November 1st 2004. It is now a ‘Company limited
by guarantee’ and a charity in its own right. Its objective
is to meet the needs of people isolated or disadvantaged through
lack of access to normal public transport and to support the community
through provision of services to the voluntary groups in the area.
'History of the Minibus and
Community Transport' was written by Ian Padley (Community Transport
Co-ordinator) and John Jewitt (Chair)
For
Further information Contact the
office
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