When we talk about transport, we’re really talking about opportunity aren’t we?
Recent discussion around transport poverty has highlighted something that community transport providers have understood for many years: the ability to travel shapes how connected, independent and healthy we are.
For many older people, transport isn’t just about getting from A to B. It’s about being able to shop, get to the GP on time, see friends, keep up a hobby or enjoy a day out.
Without access to affordable, accessible transport, those everyday opportunities can quickly become out of reach.
In the boroughs we serve Kensington & Chelsea and Westminster we see both sides of London. While parts of the borough are among the most affluent in the country, that’s only part of the story. Around one in three residents lives in poverty, nearly 7,000 aged 65 and over live alone, and around one in 10 older residents are at higher risk of chronic loneliness.
These figures remind us that need isn’t always visible.
Community transport is one of the ways local communities respond.
Whether it’s helping someone get to the supermarket, supporting an important hospital appointment or taking a group on an a day out, the journey is rarely just about the destination. It’s about maintaining independence, creating opportunities for connection and ensuring people remain part of community life.
Our excursions, for example, are included within our £12 annual Shopper Membership. They offer much more than a day out, they create opportunities for conversation, friendship and shared experiences that contribute to wellbeing and help reduce social isolation.
Community transport won’t solve transport poverty on its own, but it is an important part of the solution. Working alongside public transport, local authorities, the NHS, charities and volunteers, it helps ensure that more people can continue participating in the life of their community.
Access to community shouldn’t be income dependent, but something we all work together to make possible.
If we can help you or someone you know with accessible and affordable community transport please get in touch – call us on: 0208 964 4928 or check out what we offer here.
