Set up a community transport scheme

Parishes, charities and community groups can set up transport schemes to provide bus or car services to those who have difficulty accessing public transport.

This might be a local village bus to transport villagers to the nearest town for shopping or a volunteer car service to take people to medical appointments.

We have no statutory obligation to provide community transport schemes, but we support and encourage communities to run their own services where there is a need for transport. We can also offer advice, signposting and networking, and award community transport grants to help establish, improve or extend a scheme.

Read our guide to setting up a community transport scheme (PDF, 878.3 KB) for everything you need to know, including details of organisations that can help, such as the Community Transport Association.

Schemes that benefited from last year's funding

We awarded around £560,000 in community transport grants last year and over £400,000 the year before. Successful past bids have included:

• Age UK Kent Rivers
• Bearsted and Detling Parishes in partnership with Compaid
• Borough Green, Platt, Trottiscliffe, Addington, Ryarsh, Birling, West Malling, East Malling, Larkfield
• Boughton Malherbe Parish Council
• Community Car Service
• Eynesford and District Community Car Scheme
• Faversham Community Bus Scheme
• Hadlow Community Transport Scheme
• Hugh Christie School Hopper
• Hythe Community Bus
• Involve Community Transport
• Pluckley
• Romney Marsh Hub
• Stepping Out with Carers
• Swale CVS voluntary car scheme
• Swanley Community Minibus
• Touchbase Care CIC
• Wealden Wheels
• Wouldham and Burham.