Community Transport Service

WHAT IS POOLE COMMUNITY TRANSPORT SERVICE?

Poole Community Transport Service is operated by the Borough of Poole in partnership with Poole Council for Voluntary Service (a local charity).

AM I ELIGIBLE TO BECOME A MEMBER?

You can apply to become a member if:

• You are a resident of Poole
• You are unable to use Public Transport
• You do not have access to a car
• You need help getting into Poole and/or getting to essential appointments

WHAT DOES MEMBERSHIP OFFER?

Members may pre-book a trip, giving three days notice, on the following services:

Dial-a-Bus

A door-to-door minibus which collects members from their home address and takes them into Poole town centre.

Voluntary Driver Service

Available to provide transport around the Poole area for essential journeys such as GP/Dentist/Chiropodist and Optician appointments. We can also assist in getting you to Church meetings and clubs as well as helping you with transport when you need to visit someone in a hospital or care home.

(We cannot provide a voluntary driver for your hospital appointments or shopping).

DIAL-A-BUS

• Operates Monday to Saturday.
• You may have three Dial-a-Bus bookings on our system at a time.
• You will be collected from your home from 10.45am onwards.
• You will arrive in Poole by 12pm.
• Dial-a-Bus stops at Shopmobility, Dolphin Centre and Sainsbury’s’.
• You will have approximately 2 hours in Poole.
• All vehicles are fully accessible and can accommodate your shopping trolley as well as mobility equipment such as a zimmer frame/rollator or wheelchair.
• Subject to assessment you may travel whilst seated in your wheelchair.

(Mobility Scooters are not permitted on Dial-a-Bus for safety reasons)

VOLUNTARY DRIVER SERVICE

• Voluntary Drivers provide transport in their own cars for your essential journeys.
• All drivers have had a CRB check.
• We have a wheelchair accessible vehicle that may be pre-booked with a voluntary driver if you need to travel whilst seated in your wheelchair. A safety assessment will be undertaken before you travel.
• Subject to completion of a short training course, family or friends may borrow the wheelchair accessible car to take you out in your wheelchair. A charge will be made based on the mileage covered.
• You may have three bookings on our system at a time.
• We will always try to accommodate your request for a Voluntary Driver however, this service is dependent upon driver availability.

(Mobility Scooters cannot be accommodated on the Voluntary Driver Service for safety reasons)

HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?

• Annual membership is £5 per year.
• Dial-a-Bus Fares are £1 each way / £2 return
• Journeys with the Voluntary Driver Service start at £3 each way

CONCESSIONARY TRAVEL FROM JULY 2009

If you do not have a bus-pass (Connect card) or are unable to use yours then, from July 2009, you may be eligible for vouchers to help pay for your Dial-a-Bus and Voluntary Driver journeys.

Eligibility for vouchers will be assessed at the time of joining.

HOW DO I JOIN?

If you feel you are eligible to become a member then please contact us on telephone number (01202) 634249.

A referral will then be passed to the Community Transport & Travel Co-ordinator who will arrange to visit you at your home to confirm eligibility, discuss your transport needs and decide how we can best help you.

You can find some more information about the scheme by clicking here FAQ .

VOLUNTARY DRIVING – Can you help?

We would love to hear from anyone who enjoys driving and meeting people. Maybe you can help out even for just an hour or so every now and again?

You can use your own car in return for a mileage allowance, currently £0.40 for all miles covered.

If you have a valid driving licence but do not have a car then perhaps you could help out by driving our wheelchair accessible Citroen Berlingo. Full training will be provided.

Voluntary Drivers make an important contribution to people living within the Borough of Poole enabling them to live a full and active life within their own community. It is the volunteers’ dedication that keeps this much appreciated service running.

If you think you can help by sparing some of your time and becoming a Voluntary Driver and would like some more information then please contact the Community Transport & Travel Co-ordinator on (01202) 262220 or email.