‘It’s changed my life’ not often a minibus can make that claim, but community transport hits different. This week is Community Transport Week, a national awareness week led by The Community Transport Association, and dedicated to raising awareness about how life changing it is.

More than a bus, Community Transport is a life line to thousands of people all over the UK and here in our Borough of Kensington & Chelsea we help hundreds of older people , people with mobility challenges, and schools, and local community groups and charities do more – to feel part of their community and fight loneliness and isolation, one of the UK’s biggest threats to health, happiness and the economy.

An estimated 3.8 million people across the UK are suffering from chronic loneliness. More than one in ten people with physical or mental health conditions are chronically lonely. Over half (54%) of older people report going days without speaking to another person. The impact of this on people’s health and wellbeing is well understood, with a recent global study showing that social isolation increases mortality by 35%.

Older and disabled people also face significant barriers to accessing basic local amenities – a prerequisite for independent living. One in five (19%) of people aged 80-84 say they have difficulty shopping for groceries, rising to 60% for those aged over 90. Missed outpatient appointments cost the NHS £200m a year – with the most cited reason being difficulties with transport.

We want to see a world where older and disabled people can get out and about, see their friends and family, have human contact and access basic amenities – this means transport must be a part of the solution.

Over the last year we’ve taken part in the Community Transport Association’s national Passenger Survey which is now published, and is is full of statistics, facts, and feedback on the impact we, and hundreds of other providers make for people across the country, by making transport equitable. This is a great resource for local authorities, community groups and anyone commissioning services, or considering using our services for themselves or a loved one, and we were delighted to be a part of it.

You can read the Passenger Survey here.