Project

Winner

Helps 1264 people who cannot access public transport due to age or disability stay independent for longer by offering car journeys at heavily subsidised rates. It relies on 4 vehicles driven by 22 volunteers who provide over 200 weekly trips

What does your charity/project do?

We provide affordable safe transport for over 1200 individuals and over 600 local Groups in K&C & Westminster with our fleet of wheelchair accessible minibuses and cars. With volunteers our Car Scheme provides much needed car trips, the Shopper Bus provides assisted daily shopping trips and the Scooter scheme provides the hire of free mobility scooters to elderly and disabled members. Users of our Minibus services range from youth groups, schools and elderly people, to minority ethnic groups

How does your charity/project support the local community?

Users make use of this scheme to attend classes, gym sessions, church services, to visit friends and family, local markets and generally to continue to enjoy what London has to offer. This in turn helps people stay healthy both physically and mentally and prevents social isolation and depression. Volunteering for this scheme promotes active citizenship and supports intercultural understanding and multiculturalism as our drivers have a chance to experience first hand different backgrounds

What do you plan to use the CommunityForce award for?

£6,000 we would use towards the replacement of an old vehicle for the Car Scheme. This would enable us to continue to provide those 50 journeys every week that would be lost if we were unable to replace the vehicle. Whilst these journeys are not a matter of life and death, they are still of the uppermost importance for our clients as they are often the only chance they have during the week to go out, to meet friends and family or attend classes to keep their bodies or their minds agile