The first Community Transport Week will begin on Monday 16 October. It is being staged by the Community Transport Association (CTA) and intends to showcase “the vital role of community transport in helping millions of people to stay independent, participate in their communities, and access essential public services and employment,” the Association says.
Charities and community groups will take part in the event. It will have a theme of ‘Bridging the Gap, Connecting Communities’. CTA says that such an approach will highlight how the sector closes gaps in the public transport network and brings people together.
Plans for the week include community activities, volunteer celebrations, and visits from councillors and MPs. CTA’s team will be travelling across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales to join and support celebrations, says CTA CEO Dr Victoria Armstrong.
Adds Dr Armstrong: “We are thrilled to be launching the first ever Community Transport Week to celebrate the amazing impact of our sector in urban, rural, and island communities across the UK.
“Community transport delivers so much social value and it provides lifeline services to so many people. They are essential, and so it is only right that we celebrate and say thank you to the commitment and dedication of our sector’s drivers, volunteers, leaders, and trustees.”
Support has been forthcoming from the Department for Transport (DfT). CTA notes that as bus networks shrink in some areas, “communities are increasingly stepping up to the plate to deliver their own solutions to unmet transport needs.” Dr Armstrong adds that CTA looks forward “to deepening our partnership [with DfT] in the months and years ahead.”
A toolkit has been provided on the CTA website for community transport organisations interested in participating in the event, including suggested theme ideas and a set of resources. The celebration runs to Friday 21 October.
