Northern Fells Group
Minibus service.
Category: Transport
A minibus transport service with volunteer drivers serving the needs of residents of the Northern Fells Area (7 rural parishes surrounding Caldbeck).
Where
For parishes of Boltons, Caldbeck, Castle Sowerby, Ireby with Uldale, Mungrisdale, Sebergham with Welton and Westward with Rosley.
Who
For anyone of any age who does not have their own transport; has limited access to shared transport; cannot drive their own cars temporarily; needs disabled access.
Why
To address rural isolation, assist with getting to medical and other appointments, compensate for the shortage of locally available public transport.
When
On demand Monday to Friday, 9 to 5 and on request at other times if drivers available.
What are you most proud of?
Filling a much needed gap in local service provision – without our transport many of our passengers would not be able to continue to live in the small rural villages and communities in our area and still manage to maintain their health and social interactions.
How did you get people involved?
The service is well established (25 years) and sits under the Northern Fells Group who are well known locally. Word of mouth and local advertising ensure people know about the transport service and we get local people applying to be volunteer drivers.
What difference did the project make?
Passengers regularly describe us as a “lifeline” – an affordable, responsive service with kind, caring volunteers can provide so much more than just getting from A to B. We have a lot of very regular passengers and some people who just use us now and then as needed.
What do you wish you had known at the start?
Can’t think of anything.
What do you hope for the future of your project?
For it to continue with minimum bureaucracy and administration in order to directly meet local needs.
Minibus advert.