Oxfordshire's Community Transport Network

Oxfordshire boasts a rich and varied tapestry of transport services, extending far beyond the conventional public transport network. For residents who face challenges with mobility or medical conditions, the Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service, provided by the EMED Group, offers a crucial lifeline. This vital service ensures that individuals unable to travel by other means can still access essential medical appointments and care. If you or someone you know could benefit from this service, further details on eligibility and booking procedures are available on the EMED Group website or by calling 0300 777 3333. This is a testament to Oxfordshire's commitment to ensuring no one is left behind when it comes to accessing healthcare.

The Backbone of Community Mobility: Minibus and Car Schemes

For over three decades, Oxfordshire has championed and supported community transport initiatives, fostering a network that addresses local needs with flexibility and dedication. These schemes are instrumental in bridging gaps where public transport may be infrequent or non-existent, particularly in rural areas. They operate on the principle of community helping community, providing safe, accessible, and cost-effective solutions.

The support offered to these schemes is multifaceted. Expert guidance is freely available to both new and established groups, ensuring best practices are shared and disseminated. This is facilitated through community transport network meetings, creating a collaborative environment for volunteers to exchange ideas and refine their services. Furthermore, research plays a key role; support is offered for transport surveys, both for self-developed initiatives and through affordable consultancy for those looking to assess local transport demand and identify suitable solutions. This data-driven approach ensures that community transport services remain relevant and responsive to evolving needs.

Advocacy is another cornerstone of this support system. Working in tandem with Oxfordshire County Council, efforts are made to promote community transport at both local and national levels. Critical initiatives, such as securing free volunteer driver parking at Oxford University Hospitals (OUH), highlight the tangible benefits of this collaborative advocacy. If your community group is looking for support or you're interested in establishing a new scheme, reaching out for information is the first step.

The Profound Benefits of Community Transport

Community transport is a powerful demonstration of the voluntary sector's impact. It acts as a crucial safety net, stepping in where public transport falters and providing an indispensable service in both urban and rural settings. The core ethos is simple yet profound: it's transport that is safe, accessible, cost-effective, and flexible, all driven by the community, for the community. This model empowers individuals and communities to take ownership of their local challenges and implement practical, sustainable solutions.

These initiatives often operate on a not-for-profit basis or as social enterprises, blending the dedication of volunteers with the professionalism of paid staff. The diversity within community transport is remarkable, encompassing:

• Car clubs: Shared vehicle schemes offering flexibility and affordability.
• Community minibuses: Providing group transport for various activities and routes.
• Dial-a-ride: Door-to-door services for individuals with mobility issues.
• Lift share: Encouraging carpooling and reducing traffic.
• Taxi share: Co-ordinated taxi journeys to reduce costs.
• Voluntary car schemes: Utilising volunteer drivers to transport individuals to appointments and essential services.

While some services cater exclusively to members, many are open to the general public. The impact is far-reaching, facilitating disabled people's access to employment, ensuring children reach school safely, transporting the sick to medical appointments, and enabling older residents to maintain their independence by reaching shops and social activities. These services also underpin local bus routes and provide essential transport for clubs and various community groups.

Community Transport in Action: Oxfordshire's Success Stories

Oxfordshire is a vibrant hub for community transport, showcasing a wide array of operations. From intimate volunteer car schemes to more extensive minibus operations with scheduled services, the sector is both active and diverse. Here are a couple of compelling case studies:

Case Study 1: OurBus Bartons – Connecting Communities

Established in 2016, OurBus Bartons emerged from a collective response to public transport cuts and the ensuing threat of rural isolation. This dedicated group of volunteers recognised a critical need and established a scheduled weekday bus service. Operating across nine routes, OurBus Bartons connects local communities with vital hubs in larger villages, health centres, and supermarkets. Beyond its scheduled services, the minibus is also available for hire during evenings and weekends, offering further flexibility to the community.

Case Study 2: Vale Community Impact – Driving Support

Vale Community Impact, formerly the Wantage Independent Advice Centre, operates a vital transport service covering Wantage, Faringdon, Harwell, Watchfield, and the surrounding villages in the Vale of White Horse. Their volunteer drivers are instrumental in transporting clients to Day Centres, surgeries, hospitals, and various appointments. The impact of their work is substantial; in the period between March 2019 and April 2020 alone, 60 dedicated volunteer drivers covered nearly 100,000 miles, assisting over 6,000 individuals. This demonstrates the sheer scale and importance of their contribution to local well-being.

Finding the Right Service for You

If you find yourself struggling with access to public transport, a community transport service in Oxfordshire might be the perfect solution. The county offers resources to help you locate these invaluable services.

Search Facilities and Local Resources

The Community Transport Association provides a national search facility, allowing you to pinpoint local community-run transport services anywhere in England. For Oxfordshire-specific searches, the Oxfordshire Local Transport Toolkit is an invaluable resource. This self-help guide is designed to empower communities to identify and tackle local transport problems effectively. It's hoped that communities will utilise this toolkit to find practical and efficient solutions to their transport needs.

The toolkit is designed to be user-friendly, but for those who require additional assistance, Community First Oxfordshire offers support to communities and groups navigating the process. This ensures that help is always at hand, making it easier to establish or access these vital services.

Community Transport Grants and Funding

Recognising the importance of these services, the local council actively supports the development of not-for-profit community transport groups and services. Small start-up grants are available to assist groups in their initial development stages, providing crucial seed funding to get projects off the ground. Additionally, support can be provided to help cover the costs of training volunteers, particularly for roles such as minibus drivers and passenger assistants. If you are involved with a community transport initiative or are considering starting one, reaching out for information about available grants and training support is highly recommended.

How You Can Contribute to Community Transport

While many of us take our ability to travel for granted, for those who cannot drive or access public transport, the risk of isolation and being stranded is a stark reality. Contributing to community transport is incredibly rewarding and offers a great deal of flexibility. You can directly support your local community transport group by:

• Raising awareness about the services available to those who need them.
• Assisting with fundraising efforts to ensure the sustainability of the service.
• Becoming a volunteer driver, directly impacting the lives of individuals.
• Helping with the administrative side, such as managing bookings.

Opportunities to get involved may also be advertised through local volunteer centres, providing another avenue to discover how you can lend a hand. If you've identified a local transport need but can't find an existing group to support, don't hesitate to contact either the relevant council department or Community First Oxfordshire to discuss potential local needs and how they might be addressed.

A Specific Example: The Thame Community Car

A notable example of a highly tailored community transport service is the Thame Community Car. This specially adapted vehicle is designed to assist Tackley residents who face difficulties using public transport or attending essential medical appointments. The car is equipped to accommodate one wheelchair user along with up to three other passengers, ensuring that essential mobility needs are met with care and consideration. This highlights the bespoke nature of many community transport solutions, designed to address very specific local requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions