Melksham
villages’ school run passes the test
A
community minibus group in Melksham is now running a rural
school bus service on a regular basis having trialed the
service last year.
The
service was developed after parents from Holt and Broughton
Gifford villages approached Community First to see whether
a community minibus service could be established to transport
their children to Corsham School.
The
parents involved were struggling to get their children to
and from the school every day and were concerned about the
number of car journeys they were making.
Subsequently,
Community First brokered a close working relationship between
the parents and with local community minibus group, Melksham
Council of Community Service (MCCS).
Strong
support to set up the service was also given by local Holt-based
parent Jennifer Riddle who helped to recruit new drivers
to do the early morning and afternoon runs to and from the
villages and the School.
The
service now carries a regular bus load throughout the school
term and Mrs Riddle continues to work with the community
minibus group to co-ordinate the service.
The
service is funded mainly by parents and partly by Wiltshire
Council who fund MCCS to take certain children living in
the villages on the service to Corsham School.
Community
First made the link with Wiltshire Council to provide part
funding in this way.
The
group will be looking for a new regular driver for the service
after the summer holidays. The position will be a paid one.
For further details please contact, Mr George Brown, Minibus
Manager MCCS on (01225) 700319.
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Safety
First for Wheels to Work
Riders
on Community First’s Wiltshire Wheels to Work scheme
are now safer than ever following a training session recently
held by Wiltshire Bike Safe.
Supported
by Wiltshire Police; the Wiltshire Bike Safe initiative
has been running since 1999 in partnership with the Wiltshire
and Swindon Road Safety Units.
Held
in March, the training session for Wheels to Work riders
was organised by Community First and covered a range of
topics including rider attitude, protective equipment, road
positioning and hazard perception.
Compelling
DVD’s were shown about the effects of poor rider attititude;
driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs and also
about the consequences of road accidents.
Although
the Bike Safe initiative provides training to riders of
more powerful motorcycles they also regularly provide training
to riders of bikes with an engine capacity of 125cc or below.
Colin
Reeves of Wiltshire Bike Safe, who ran the training session
for Community First commented: “Currently across the
UK, as many as 1 in 15 young men aged between 23-28 are
killed or seriously injured on scooters. This is why it
is so important to get the message across about safe riding
to people riding a scooter locally – and not just
to young men of course but to everyone riding a smaller
motorbike.”
Community
First will look to hold similar training sessions in the
future for other Wheels to Work riders.
More
information about the Bike Safe initiative is available
at the following website: www.bikesafe.co.uk
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Transport
fund now easier to apply to
Local
communities’ charity Community First is making life
simpler for small community-based groups
to apply to its Community Transport Small Grants Fund.
Supported
by Wiltshire Council and Swindon Borough Council, the fund
supports local community projects which help people without
access to transport to get around.
The
types of projects that can apply include new initiatives
which help isolated people to access local services, facilities
or community activities. An example might be a minibus service
for young people in rural areas which requires help with
the costs involved in getting the service off of the ground.
Recently,
lower thresholds have been introduced to encourage new projects
to apply to the fund.
Projects
up to the value of £250 can now apply for 100% of
the cost of a project from the fund, as opposed to 75% as
previously. The fact that no ‘match funding’
is needed for smaller projects will help community groups
without any start-up funding to establish new transport
services for the community.
Other
small adjustments have also been made to the fund criteria
to make it more straightforward for applicants. For instance
driver wages can now be paid if they are integral to a new
service being developed.
Existing
community transport schemes such as Link schemes and Community
Minibuses wanting to reach new passengers are also invited
to apply to the fund.
Grants
of up to £1,000 are available.
Examples
of projects include:
•
Minibus equipment
• Community minibus schemes that offer new/improved
services
• Training of minibus drivers through accredited schemes.
• Publicity to advertise community transport services
• Development of new transport services which can
become self-sustaining
• 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/staff
For
more information please visit http://www.communityfirst.org.uk/ct-small-grants.html
or for an application form please contact Susanne Pidduck
at Community First on (01380) 722475 or e-mail spidduck@communityfirst.org.uk.
