DAWLISH Community Transport has taken delivery of a fleet of new and second hand vehicles to help residents with mobility issues.
The charity now has a brand new bespoke 17-seater minibus, christened Lottie, a second hand 17-seater minibus and two specially adapted cars.
The new fleet has been funded thanks to a £50,000 grant from the Lottery plus contributions from individuals after an appeal by the chairman of Teignbridge District Council Cllr John Petherick which lead to an anonymous donation.
The new bus is fully wheelchair accessible and adapted to transport most abilities, fitted with lowered steps and tail lifts, able to also carry on board mobility scooters and aids to shopping essentials.
The donations came at a time when the charity needed to replace its ageing fleet but while it meant initially having to reduce the vehicles from 10 down to five, it now has gone back up to eight.
Office manager Sally Preston explained: ‘Pre-lockdown we were in a very concerning position with our older fleet of vehicles. But we have been so overwhelmed by the success of a Lottery grant application and with the incredible donations and support from the community to be able to recently purchase replacement vehicles.’
She said during lockdown most of the charity’s services came to a standstill at first, as did most of the volunteer drivers who were advised to shield, along with all of their fundraising opportunities.
Sally said: ‘Vehicles are our assets that we cannot be without. The reduced fleet remained a great concern.’
A pre-lockdown small grant application to the Lottery Community Fund came to fruition which purchased a good second-hand wheelchair accessible car in the name of ‘Georgie’.
Later in the year came ‘Bertie’ to replace the well-known vehicle Bert – a further grant success from Devon County Council’s Invest in Devon.
Combined with the existing community raised funds and donations, they bought a converted second-hand replacement 17-seater mini bus.
Sally said: ‘The pandemic has taught us many things; most prominent is our understanding of the importance and need for community transport services to continue.
‘When ambulance services were inundated, public transport limited or deemed potentially unsafe for highly vulnerable/unwell people at the time, we were equipped with very versatile vehicles, trained and experienced drivers to go above and beyond their more usual call of duty, and support the community to get to essential medical appointments.
‘As services resumed it was noticeable how many were still too concerned to take a seat on a bus, and still are to date, hence less demand for our normal shopping days to increase.
‘Thanks to our amazing team, we’ve managed to keep the wheels turning and now strive to move forward and continue working together to meet the needs of the community.’