Connecting Communities – Training

 Darllenwch Yn Gymraeg

What we’ve done 

We’re supporting community transport providers across Wales, as well as those who want to set up their own community transport schemes, by developing and delivering capacity building training across a wide range of important areas.

The project has a focus on driver related training, but to provide wider support to the sector, we undertook work to fully understand what training schemes would be of most support to community transport in Wales.

The results have helped shape our training programme which has delivered various avenues of training to those across the community transport sector in Wales.

MIDAS (the Minibus Driver Awareness Scheme)

Over the past 18 months we have supported 134 community transport staff and volunteers from across Wales to undertake MiDAS training, helping build capacity across the sector. We’ve also facilitated Driver Assessor Training for nine community transport staff and volunteers, enabling them to deliver MiDAS training themselves within their organisation.

D1 Train the Trainer Programme

Anyone who obtained their driving licence after 1997 needs to go through additional training for their D1 entitlement in order to legally drive a minibus. This is often a costly process, so our D1 Train the Trainer programme is designed to train people up as D1 Trainers so they can deliver D1 training themselves. So far, three people have been through the programme.

Dementia Training for Staff working in Transport

Developed specifically for the community transport sector in partnership with the Alzheimer’s society, 14 people have undergone training to better support those with dementia who access community transport services. Like our D1 programme, this training also gives people the skills to go on and train others in their organisation.

Signposting to other training 

Our training needs analysis of the community transport sector in Wales found a wide range of areas that organisations are looking for support on. As well as facilitating the training courses mentioned above, we’re also working in partnership with Social Business Wales to support organisations to access support around governance, financial skills and business planning.

Find out more about Connecting Communities in Wales:

Connecting Communities in Wales has received funding through the Welsh Government Rural Communities Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government.