COMMUNITY FIRST CAN ASSIST WITH YOUR BSOG CLAIM

------------

WILTSHIRE ALL VEHICLE SHARING SCHEME (WAVeSS)

The Wiltshire All Vehicle Sharing Scheme (or WAVeSS for short) is a Wiltshire-based scheme which acts as a ‘go between’ connecting local community organisations that own passenger carrying vehicles with local groups needing affordable transport by brokering a virtual ‘pool’ of community owned vehicles.
Funded by Wiltshire Council’s Post-16 Transport Partnership, WAVeSS is designed simply to give community-based organisations the chance to lend or borrow vehicles that are not being used all of the time.

Based on a similar established project in Gloucestershire, the main focus of the scheme is on sharing minibuses although it is envisaged that other passenger vehicles owned by community groups will be incorporated into the scheme as it develops.

The scheme works by taking care of all the business of making vehicles available to the community (such as legal issues, vehicle bookings and driver arrangements) before passing a fee to vehicle lenders after each journey which can be put towards vehicle running and replacement costs.

There are also robust policies in place to ensure that vehicles made available through the scheme are used responsibly and considerately.

The scheme is primarily aimed at schools or colleges needing to provide students with transport to work-based learning however it is intended that community organisations of all descriptions will make use of vehicles in the WAVeSS pool.

For more information about the scheme please click HERE

For a WAVeSS Membership Application form please click HERE

------------

Transport fund open for applications

Communities’ charity Community First has over £10,000 in its Community Transport Small Grants fund to give away to local community projects aimed at helping people to get around.

Backed by Wiltshire Council, the fund will provide grants of up to £1000 to any community-based initiative which helps local people without transport to better access places and services which car users can take for granted such as shops, doctors, youth centres, school activities, sports events or community groups.

An example of an idea for a project might be an evening minibus service for young people in a rural area which requires help with the costs involved in getting the service off of the ground.

Projects up to the value of £250 can apply for 100% of the cost of a project from the fund and driver wages can be paid if they are integral to a new service being started up.

Existing community transport schemes such as Link schemes and Community Minibuses wanting to reach new passengers are also invited to apply to the fund.

Examples of projects include:

• Minibus equipment
• Driver training
• Development of new transport services
• Publicity to advertise transport services
• Costs towards mobile services and/or facilities
• Schemes which bring services closer to people (e.g. internet)
• Research of local transport needs
• Contributory costs of recruiting volunteers or staff

Applications would be particularly welcome from projects that benefit vulnerable, disadvantaged or isolated communities.

For more information please click here or for an application form please contact Susanne Pidduck at Community First on (01380) 722475 or e-mail spidduck@communityfirst.org.uk.

As of 06 April 2009, community transport groups across Wiltshire and Swindon have been able to enjoy more freedom and choice about how they provide services within their communities. Significant changes to the legislation which govern how community minibus groups operate are contained in the new Local Transport Act, came into force in the spring of this year.

The new law amended sections 19 and 22 of the Transport Act 1985 and the changes mean that community minibus groups will have the flexibility to undertake certain new activities which were not possible before the new Act was introduced.

The new provisions for community minibus groups contained within the Act include:

• The ability for smaller vehicles (e.g. MPV’s) to be run under the same operating licence which previously could only be used for community minibuses

• Allowing rebates of fuel duty to be paid for mileage covered by smaller vehicles (also previously only applicable to community minibuses)

• Enabling more drivers to be paid

• Making it possible for larger vehicles (e.g. coaches) to be operated

• Widening the scope for bus passes to be taken on community transport services

As a result of the changes brought about by the introduction of the new Act, there are many of new services which can now be run by community minibus groups.

Some examples of the changes that can be made include the following:

• Existing services operated under a Section 19 Small Bus Permit (e.g. shopper bus services) can now be operated under a Section 22 Community Bus Permit. This would enable the general public to be carried which could mean that local bus services could be provided to areas of Wiltshire and Swindon where they are not currently available. Such a service could also mean that community transport services become more integrated with elderly and disabled people using the same vehicles as the general public.

• New Section 22 Community Bus services can be set up to provide public transport for isolated areas either in rural or urban areas (possibly at times of the day or week when large buses are uneconomical).

The additional advantage of running such services is that private hire work can also be undertaken to help finance the running costs involved.

For more information, or for advice about how to go about introducing some of the new transport services outlined above in your community, please call Liam Tatton-Bennett on (01380) 722475 ext. 243.