LATEST NEWS
Bassetlaw Action Centre Welcomes New Minibus
Bassetlaw Action Centre was delighted to take delivery of a new community minibus on Tuesday 6th May. The minibus was funded by a Motability Foundation grant and topped up by the local charity’s reserves, enabling it to be purpose built for their clients’ needs. The new bus is fitted with a fully hydraulic lift and can take up to 16 passengers, including four in wheelchairs, and is designed to enable people with disabilities to participate fully in their community and enjoy the same activities as their non-disabled peers. Bassetlaw Action Centre will be using it for their popular lunch and day trips and have a new program of events available now.
Bassetlaw Action Centre CEO Lynn Tupling said “This new fully accessible minibus will allow us to help even more people in Bassetlaw to get out and about and reduce their isolation. Almost 3.4% of adults report feeling lonely “often or always” but that rises to 13.3% for people who have a disability. We are determined to reduce transport inequalities experienced by disabled people in Bassetlaw and our minibus trips are a great way to create connections and forge new friendships. We are proud that we can help more people with disabilities within Bassetlaw.”
Lisa Jones, Chief Operating Officer at the Motability Foundation, said: “We’re delighted to award Bassetlaw Action Centre with this grant to expand transport services for disabled people in North Nottinghamshire and the surrounding areas.
“This transport can be a lifeline to passengers, by supporting independent living, reducing isolation, and improving access to services. Awarding grants to important local organisations like Bassetlaw Action Centre helps us to make an immediate difference to the transport needs of disabled people.”
Bassetlaw Action Centre’s three transport schemes; Bassetlaw Community Car Scheme, where drivers use their own vehicles; Car Scheme Plus, where drivers use a specially adapted mobility car enabling passengers to travel in their wheelchair; and Bassetlaw Community Minibuses are all driven by volunteer drivers. These volunteers make the scheme possible by donating their time and have all expenses paid which prevents financial constraints from stopping people volunteering. MS is one of the valuable volunteer drivers who is excited to try the new vehicle, “As a volunteer driver, I see and really appreciate the benefits the Action Centre’s transport services bring to the local community. It’s great to see the arrival of the new minibus which has been built specially to accommodate the exact needs of our users. Whether it’s days out, medical appointments or lunch clubs, I know the Action Centre provides an invaluable service and the new minibus will be key to maintaining and expanding this.”
The new minibus will be running in addition to the current one which will continue to offer the same fun trips but enable a greater take up. These trips are open to anyone who resides within Bassetlaw and a full schedule is available at https://bassetlawactioncentre.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/BAC-0623-05-Community-Minibus.pdf or by calling 01777 709650.
To find out more about Bassetlaw Action Centre and its services and volunteering opportunities please visit www.bassetlawactioncentre.org.uk, email enquiries@actioncentre.org.uk or call 01777 709650.
About the Motability Foundation
The Motability Foundation is a registered charity set up in 1977. The Motability Foundation funds, supports, researches and innovates so that all disabled people can make the journeys they choose. We oversee the Mobility Scheme and provide grants to help people use it, providing access to transport to hundreds of thousands of people a year. We award grants to other charities and organisations that provide different types of transport, or work towards making transport accessible. We also carry out ongoing research, in partnership with disabled people and key stakeholders in the industry, to inspire innovations that continue to champion accessible transport for all. Motability operating as Motability Foundation.
We were shortlisted for a second year running at both the Health and Social Care Awards for our Supported Independent Living Service and the whole organisation was shortlisted at the Locality Awards for the Power of Community Award.
The Supported Independent Living Service helps older and vulnerable people remain safe in their homes for longer, improve their housing situations, and foster stronger social connections. The awards Ceremony took place at the John Fretwell Sporting Complex on 6 November 2024.
Locality Awards – The Power of Community Award celebrates a community organisation working with local people to shape their own future and to build a fairer society where everyone in the community thrives.
The Locality Award ceremony was held in Manchester on Tuesday 12th November 2024.
Next Government Urged to Prioritise Community Transport to Cut Local NHS Waiting lists
Bassetlaw Action Centre is backing the Community Transport Association’s call for the next UK government to utilise community solutions in a hard-hitting manifesto on the state of accessible transport across the UK.
The CTA manifesto, A Better Future for Transport: National Challenges, Community Solutions calls for a new and dynamic partnership between the next UK government, CTA and the Community Transport sector to continue to fill the gaps left by a shrinking bus network; respond to an ageing population, protect the future of the NHS and social care; tackle climate change, reduce poverty, inequality and the cost of living crisis, and level up the nations and regions of the UK.
CTA Director for Scotland, David Kelly said: “Investing in community solutions is essential to build a more accessible, affordable, and attractive transport system with far-reaching benefits.
“As we look towards the general election, it is vital the next UK Government fully values and invests in community transport. Working with communities is not only a pragmatic solution to alleviate pressures on our NHS and the social care system, but it is also the right thing to do to demonstrate our collective commitment to ensuring universal access and greater equality for generations to come.”
Paula Graham, Bassetlaw Action Centre’s Transport Manager said “We know just how important services like the Bassetlaw Community Car Scheme are, especially to rural or aging communities like Bassetlaw’s. We simply can’t run it without the support of local organisations and with their help more people are able to remain independently in their homes while still taking as active part in the community.”
Produced in collaboration with UK wide Community Transport operators and CTA members, the CTA Manifesto focuses on five key priorities based on the national challenges facing the UK;
- Modernising for Growth
- Improving Access to Health and Social Care
- Investing in Community Solutions
- Accelerating Community-led Climate Action
- Delivering a Fair Deal for Volunteers
CTA research found that trips to access health services are amongst the popular purposes for CT, to support people to get to GP surgeries, hospitals, hospices, vaccination centers and care homes.
Accessible ‘door-to-door’ or ‘door-through-door’ services by Community Transport make thousands of health and social care appointments possible every year and save millions of pounds through preventing missed appointments, delayed discharges and longer waiting lists.
Over the past year over 9000 journeys were facilitated by Bassetlaw Action Centre. The service, which covers shopping and social visits as well as healthcare, is available for any Bassetlaw resident who is unable to access public transport. More details can be found at www.bassetlawactioncentre.org.uk or by calling 01777 709650.
The benefits of community transport schemes run far beyond a single health-related journey. Launched in August 2022, CTA supported 18 pilot schemes, including in Bassetlaw, through the Tackling Loneliness through CT project in a bid to research how transport policies can reduce the number of people feeling lonely in England.
93% of people participating in the project reported that accessing CT had a positive impact on feelings of isolation or loneliness.
Anyone interested in finding out more about Community Transport solutions and to join the campaign for Community Solutions can find out more at www.ctauk.org/manifesto2024/ or get involved on social media using #CommunitySolutions
Bassetlaw Action Centre Team Score A Hat Trick Of Awards
Bassetlaw Action Centre has recently received the Get Out Get Active (GOGA) Embedding Inclusion Award at the recent GOGA awards ceremony in Birmingham. This is in recognition of the involvement of Bassetlaw individuals in becoming more active. This is not about joining a gym but is aimed at people with mental and/or physical health or with a long-term condition to become more engaged in regular activity and covers walk talk groups through to playing tennis. It has been instrumental in reducing social isolation amongst participants.
In addition, Bassetlaw Action Centre won the value for money award at the Health and Care Awards for the Promoting Independence project which supports patients on discharge from hospital. The awards Ceremony took place at Nottingham University and the award was presented by Dr Kathy McLean, Chair of the Nottinghamshire Integrated Care Board.
Last, but not least, the Action Centre has also been nominated for a National Award by the Community Transport Association for the Community Transport Provider of the year 2023. There are 3 finalists in the category and the winner will be announced in November at the awards ceremony at Birmingham NEC.
Achieving or being nominated for these awards confirms how the Action Centre really does make a difference throughout Bassetlaw and values the work and support of its staff and volunteers to meet the need of its service users.
Lynn Tupling, BAC Chief Executive said “I am so Incredibly proud of my staff and volunteers for being
recognised for their hard work, commitment and determination at both system and national level. These awards mean so much to us and demonstrate clearly the quality services provided by Bassetlaw Action Centre”.
Bassetlaw Action Centre re-awarded the Carer Friendly Employer Quality Mark
In recognition of their continued commitment to identifying and supporting unpaid Carers in the workplace and in the community, the Bassetlaw Action Centre have been re-awarded the Carer Friendly Employer Quality Mark for the second year, and received the Carer Friendly Organisation Quality Mark.
Bassetlaw Action Centre’s Natalie Manning (centre) being presented with two Quality Awards from Nottinghamshire Carers Association’s Elizabeth Choo (right) and Jayne Davies (left).
Defibrillator in place at Bassetlaw Action Centre!
With thanks to funding from the Nottinghamshire County Council and Bassetlaw District Council Better care Fund we have had a defibrillator fitted outside of the the building. Anyone can use the defibrillator see instruction video below:
