ORGANISATIONS across Monmouthshire have joined forces to tackle the barriers affecting those restricted by a lack of public transport at a project launch.

The Connecting Communities in Wales project aims to fill gaps in public transport provision and enable support for some of the country’s most vulnerable and isolated individuals through the provision of community transport.

The Community Transport Association (CTA), the voice of the sector in Wales, has launched the project with a series of events across Wales, including a gathering held at Abergavenny’s St Mary’s Priory on Tuesday 30th January.

Local community transport providers, as well as key stakeholders including older people, welfare groups and social care representatives, shared their views on the current gaps in provision across Monmouthshire.

CTA argues that the provision of community transport is essential as it provides much needed links and accessibility to those in need, whether it’s transport to GP and hospital appointments or lifts to the shops, help to get to interviews and places of work or to see friends and family to prevent isolation. For many people across Wales, community transport, and the volunteers that provide such services, is the only way they are able to leave the house.

Gill Jones, coordinator of the Bridges Community Car Scheme in Monmouth, spoke in support of the Connecting Communities in Wales project launch commenting: “For the hundreds of isolated people that rely on the volunteer led service we provide, it is much more than a simple lift to the shops or a visit to the community centre. Our amazing volunteers go above and beyond to support our service users, ensuring they are aware of any disabilities or medical conditions that could be relevant and aiding them through every step of the pick-up/ drop-off process.

“But in order to support the growing number of people relying on our service, it is imperative we recruit more volunteer drivers across Monmouthshire and raise awareness of the need for such schemes across the county.”

Bridges Community Cars Scheme was set up 18 months ago with the aim of helping vulnerable and isolated people to get out and about. Gill Jones said: “Transport can be a huge barrier for some people so we set up a scheme, with the help of a town council grant and other fundraising activities, whereby volunteers use their own vehicles to take people to medical appointments, social events and to access local businesses. We charge a small fee to cover drivers’ expenses and running costs but make no profit.

“By the end of 2017 our drivers had carried out 530 trips and covered over 6,500 miles. The scheme has grown so much that we need some funds for a part time paid coordinator to ensure that we continue to give an efficient and effective service to those who need it while also looking after the wellbeing of our volunteers.”

To find out more about supporting the Bridges Community Car Scheme visit monmouthshire.madeopen.co.uk/projects/Bridges-Community-CarScheme