Supporting projects across Strathclyde.
SPT has allocated more than £1.2million to support a number of key community transport projects across Strathclyde.
The funding was approved at today’s final partnership meeting before the local elections.
SPT chair, Councillor Dr Martin Bartos said:
“The last couple of years and the impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic on our everyday lives saw those in Community Transport having to alter many of their usual activities to take on new roles to continue to support their local communities. Yet again, those working in CT proved they provide lifelines services for so many of the individuals and groups they support and help.
“Ensuring funding for their future operation and development is key to their success and will ensure they continue to deliver vital services in our urban and rural communities as they revert back to their pre-COVID activities.”
Community transport plays a key role in ensuring communities in many areas, where there is limited access to public transport, remain connected. It means groups who might otherwise have no way of travelling can improve their quality of life by reducing loneliness and increasing their social interaction helping to promote their own wellbeing.
Many of the projects funded ensure transport for those with special needs and kids’ clubs, community bus services for the elderly and for those with mobility issues who find it difficult to access public transport. They also provide transport for patients to meet hospital / hospice and out-patient appointments.
Grant funding of more than £425,000 has been awarded to Community Transport Glasgow (CTG) to support their core transport activities including special needs club transport, children’s Playscheme transport, as well as transport for the elderly and other vulnerable groups. Full funding for club and Playscheme transport is provided from Glasgow City Council to SPT which we arrange on behalf of a number of community transport operators
This includes funding of up to £58,000 to run a local community bus service (CB2) operating in Drumchapel between Antonine Road, Drumchapel Shopping Centre and Peel Glen Road filling a gap in the local bus network.
The North Area Transport Trust (NATA) has been awarded almost £134,000 to support their core transport activities and specific services including local bus services; special needs club transport and children’s Playscheme transport.
This funding also includes £47,000 will help support club transport to 19 clubs in Glasgow for those with special needs, the elderly and other vulnerable groups.
More than £203,000 was awarded to South Ayrshire Community Transport (SACT) which provides accessible, affordable transport for socially or economically disadvantaged groups, voluntary groups and third sector organisations in South Ayrshire.
SACT also operates a MyBus Rural DRT service on behalf of SPT (R700) together with an additional fourth day per week operation (CB8). More than £54,000 of the allocated funding will enable this service to continue operating during 2022/2023.
A separate application for up to £100,000 capital funding was made by SACT, to purchase a new low floor accessible minibus, specifically for use on the CB8 service. This will replace the existing vehicle which is now some six years old, improving the reliability on this geographically arduous service. The existing low floor vehicle will be able to be deployed on other work with which SACT is involved.
More than £82,000 was awarded to Coalfield Community Transport (CCT), including £50,000 to support their core transport activities and running costs. An additional £32,291 will allow continuation of its Cumnock / Sorn Connector Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) service.
South West Community Transport (SWCT) was awarded more than £78,500 for their community transport activities for 2022/2023. This included £40,000 to replace a vehicle in their fleet for a new minibus with a wheelchair accessible tail-lift.
In addition:
Ardgowan Hospice receives up to £25,000 to support for the organisation’s volunteer car scheme, which provides transport to hospitals in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area for cancer treatment and out-patient hospice attendances, for residents in the Inverclyde area. The funding will be used to support vehicle running costs (fuel, insurance, maintenance etc.) and volunteer expenses.
The Blantyre Volunteer Group (BVG) receives up to £25,000 to support the organisation’s provision of safe, accessible community transport services for groups and individuals. The funding will assist with the running costs of their vehicles and volunteers so that they can continue to provide group transport to the local community of Blantyre and the surrounding area during 2022/2023.
Community Central Halls (CCH) which operates transport services within the most deprived communities of northwest Glasgow. CCH has been awarded £32,500 to continue to provide transport services for all ages, abilities and ethnicities in this area. Funding of £7500 was allocated for Playscheme transport providing transport for children attending activity clubs across Glasgow, bringing the total amount awarded to £32,500.
Community Transport East Renfrewshire (CTER) receives £20,000 for a volunteer car scheme which provides transport of patients to GP, clinic and hospital appointments, principally in the East Renfrewshire Council area. The funding will be used to support vehicle running costs and staff-related costs.
The East Kilbride Community Transport (EKCT) has received up to £15,000 to support the organisation’s provision of safe, accessible community transport services for groups and individuals, in East Kilbride and in other parts of South Lanarkshire.
Getting Better Together (GBT) has also been awarded £36,000 to support GBT’s core activities to provide accessible, affordable transport for socially or economically disadvantaged groups, voluntary groups and third sector organisations in North Lanarkshire.
Glenboig Development Trust (GDT) has received £25,000 to provide transport services to a wide variety of groups such as nurseries, social work, children and youth groups, elderly and disabled. The Trust also operates shopping trips from villages in the Glenboig area of North Lanarkshire for local residents who have limited access to public transport.
Larkhall District Volunteer Group (LDVG) has been awarded up to £48,000 to provide services to various community groups and an access to education service for the children of the travelling community. The group also supports a volunteer car scheme for those who need to access medical appointments. They are also piloting a shopping bus service for a particularly deprived area of Larkhall.
A new application for funding has been received from the New Tannahill Centre (NTC), part of Ferguslie Park Housing Association. Partnering with Community Transport Glasgow, NTC is seeking to launch a Community Transport project, to support the local community, and reduce loneliness and social isolation within the community’s elderly population. Up to £10,000 has been awarded subject to match funding being secured.
Port Glasgow Voluntary Trans-Port Group (PGVTG) received up to £10,000 to support CT activities. PGVTG provides accessible, affordable transport for socially or economically disadvantaged groups, voluntary groups and third sector organisations in the Inverclyde area.
Renfrewshire Council SOOPiR Bus (RC SOOPiR) receives up to £6,000 for the Strengthening Opportunities for Older Adults in Renfrewshire (SOOPiR) bus project. This project provides transport for older people and community groups in Renfrewshire to access activities that will improve the lives of socially isolated people who are unable to use public transport due to their limited mobility. These consist of outings to leisure facilities or other outings that improve the users’ quality of life, reduce loneliness, increase social interaction, increase physical activity, and promote their wellbeing.
The Rural Development Trust has been awarded core funding of £36,000 to support their community transport activities. This will assist with running costs of vehicles and staff costs to a range of community transport services including transport to healthcare surgeries for rural residents.
SPT has also awarded up to £25,000 to West Dunbartonshire Council to establish Community Transport in their area and have formed a Community Transport Action Group (CTAG) for this purpose, partnering with South West Community Transport (SWCT) to establish a pilot project. As lockdown restrictions are lifted, it will now begin a Volunteer Car Scheme / demand responsive minibus service for those unable to use mainstream public transport for medical appointments at the new Clydebank Health Centre when complete.
Total grant funding awarded to all projects:
- up to £425,261 to Community Transport Glasgow
- up to £133,944 North Area Transport Association
- up to £82,291 to Coalfields Community Transport
- up to £203,942 to South Ayrshire Community Transport
- up to £78,560 to South West Community Transport
- up to £25,000 to Ardgowan Hospice
- up to £25,000 to Blantyre Volunteer Ltd
- up to £32,500 to Community Central Halls
- up to £20,000 to Community Transport East Renfrewshire
- up to £15,000 to East Kilbride Community Transport
- up to £36,000 to Getting Better Together
- up to £25,000 to Glenboig Development Trust
- up to £48,000 to Larkhall & District Volunteer Group
- up to £10,000 to New Tannahill Centre
- up to £10,000 to Port Glasgow Voluntary Trans-Port Group
- up to £8,000 to Renfrewshire Council SOOPiR Bus
- up to £36,000 to the Rural Development Trust
- up to £25,000 to West Dunbartonshire Council
For more detail on all the projects awarded grant funding, visit: