Securing the future of community transport starts with the people who drive it.

During Community Transport Week, Westway Community Transport joined the Community Transport Association (CTA) and other sector representatives in Westminster to speak to MPs and councillors about the future of community transport.

The focus was the CTA’s D1 campaign, which addresses a growing shortage of qualified minibus drivers and calls for changes that could help secure the sector’s future while maintaining passenger safety.

The challenge is significant. Current licensing requirements limit the pool of people able to drive heavier minibuses, while many existing D1 licence holders are approaching an age at which their entitlement ends.

The CTA’s D1 White Paper sets out proposals to address this challenge and support the next generation of minibus drivers.

Why does this matter? Because the consequences reach far beyond the driving seat.

Community transport helps people get to appointments, shop independently, see friends and participate in everyday life. As we heard during our own recent discussion with Westway passengers and volunteers, these journeys are often about much more than getting from A to B.

One message captured it simply: “People need people.”

Backing the next generation of drivers means helping to protect those journeys, and the independence and connections they make possible.

Securing the future of community transport means ensuring there are enough qualified drivers to keep those connections possible, alongside the right support, safety standards and resources for services to thrive.

We’re proud to stand alongside the wider sector in raising awareness of this challenge and helping keep communities connected.

Support the CTA’s D1 campaign: https://ctauk.org/d1-campaign