Kingswood Community Transport calls for more volunteer drivers

2 May

Kingswood community transport is calling for more volunteers to help it maintain a "lifeline" service.

The charity has been operating for 40 years and provides door-to-door transport, often helping elderly, disabled and local groups get around.

The membership-based service costs passengers £2.50 per trip.

Jo Earley, who has been at the charity for 26 years, said: "We rely on our fantastic team of volunteers - we wouldn't have a service without them."

Journeys can be made anywhere, including to medical appointments, leisure visits or to visit friends and family.

'Here to help'

Ms Earley said that with local bus cuts, the service, which is open to everybody, is essential.

"Community transport is here to help the community," Ms Earley said.

"A lot of the people that we help are vulnerable, lonely, isolated.

"Some people, when we drop them off, they will not see anybody else until we call again the following day."

The charity is funded by the West of England Combined Authority (WECA), as well as the team's own fundraising.

Since the community transport service was founded, it has increased its fleet to eight electric cars and 12 minibuses.

All 21 of the drivers are volunteers, but the organisation is calling for more people to come forward to help.