Rural distance, an aging population and the centralisation of once local medical services are creating a huge issue around transport and accessible transport in particular.
Estimated Price
40000
What do you want to do
We wish to raise the capital funding to purchase two smaller accessible vehicles. Our services focus on medical transport, social transport and access to essential local services, but, in a nutshell, our members use our services to do all the same things a younger able bodied person needs to do. This could be from accessing GP appointments to attending a lunch club, from getting to the bank to an appointment at the Beatson. We provide services that work around each persons individual needs.
Why is your project needed
Argyll is a very spread out rural area, the population is aging and the older population is disproportionate to the rest of Scotland. Our public transport network works hard but is very sparse in many areas and is not fit for purpose when it comes to the need for door to door transport and especially in supporting those who are disabled and at the high end of the needs spectrum.
In addition, our once local medical services are moving out of the region to larger, centralised hospitals in Inverclyde, Glasgow and Paisley leaving many older and disabled people with huge, complex distances to attempt to overcome. Can you imagine being in your 80s and 90s, going through chemotherapy or surgery and then also trying to travel from Tighnabruaich or Bute to the Queen Elizabeth?
Compounding the issue further is the continuing drive towards Care in the Community. People living in their own homes for much longer into retirement over moving into care homes is generally a desire shared by most, if not all. The missing link is accessible transport, so that people don't become stuck in their own homes and become unable to engage with their local communities, services and healthcare.
In a larger context, the use of communal Community Transport vehicles is more environmentally friendly than the mass ownership of individual vehicles and in addition, linking a large part of our community to their local services and economy can only be good for all parties.
What positive changes will your project bring about
We support a wide, diverse range of people from children with disabilities, younger adults with mental health issues to older members with cognitive problems, mobility challenges, macular degeneration, stroke and heart issues just as examples. The demand for our services continues to rise and is very likely to continue to do so for the foreseeable future.
If successful, we will be in a far better position to help those who are experiencing additional challenges. Although there is a focus in our project on improving public services, there are also strong links to tackling the climate emergency, supporting the local economy and reducing child poverty. We can provide a number of case studies that show a very in depth picture of the positive change that our services create - we believe that everyone should be able to access their essential services regardless of disability, mental health condition, age, financial status or mobility issue and our members consistently tell us that they massively appreciate the service. We are hoping to match fund two vehicles for maximum effect, however, we understand that there will be a high level of competition for funds and, if successful, will work with our CLLD contacts on this.
'I live in Strachur. I would be very frightened about not getting to my appointments if it wasn't for your service.'
'Excellent, I am nearly 81. To get to Greenock from Helensburgh would be almost impossible. The Driver was really nice.'
'Wonderful, we used you last week. You help us with Chiropody, Hospital and the Dentist. You have never let us down and we are very satisfied with the service.'
'To the staff. I want to thank you. Your 'pick up' service delivering my medication is wonderful. The Woman delivering and the office staff are very pleasant. I have fallen into conversation and overheard others and have never heard a word of criticism or any person or the organisation. This is actually quite unusual and is a ringing endorsement of yourselves. I happily recommend you whenever the opportunity arises.'
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