Creating Connections Research Project

Policy / Research

Creating Connections: Reimagining inclusive transport for disabled children and young people

What is this research about?

Creating Connections is a UK-wide research project exploring how Community Transport can better support disabled children and young people to get where they need and want to go.

Too many disabled children and young people face daily barriers to education, social activities and community life because transport does not work for them or their families. This research is about understanding those barriers in detail and, crucially, working together to find practical, achievable solutions.

The project brings together disabled children and young people, their families, Disabled People’s Organisations (DPOs) and Community Transport Operators (CTOs), alongside stakeholders and policy makers. By combining lived experience with on-the-ground delivery knowledge, we aim to build a clear picture of what is needed locally and nationally, what is already working well, and where change is required.

Creating Connections is not just about gathering evidence. It is about collaboration and action. The learning from this work will be used to co-produce evidence-based recommendations, guidance and practical tools that Community Transport organisations can use to improve and develop services for disabled children and young people.

Disabled children, young people and their families are partners in this research, not just participants. Their time and expertise will be valued, and they will be paid in advance for their involvement.

Funder

This research is funded by the Motability Foundation, whose support enables the Community Transport sector to explore new approaches, build evidence, and develop practical guidance to improve transport for disabled children and young people.

Find out more and get involved:

Why transport matters

Access to safe, reliable and accessible transport is essential for disabled children and young people. It supports participation in education, training, social activities and community life, and plays a key role in building independence and wellbeing. However, many families continue to face significant barriers.

Evidence shows that 84% of families with disabled children are going without days out or leisure time. More than half of young disabled people say it is difficult to get to and from social events, and nearly four in ten report challenges travelling to college or university using public transport. There is also wide variation in home-to-school transport provision for children aged 8–16, with evidence of restrictions once young people turn 16. At the same time, Local Authorities are under increasing financial pressure to meet their transport responsibilities for children with special educational needs and disabilities.

Without appropriate transport, disabled children and young people can miss out on education, social opportunities and everyday experiences, placing additional strain on families and carers.

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The opportunity for community transport

Community Transport already plays an important role in supporting people with mobility needs and responding flexibly to local gaps in provision. This research explores how the sector can build on that role for disabled children and young people.

Across the UK, over half of Community Transport operators already take children as passengers, with many also supporting teenagers and youth groups. Most operators provide services for passengers with limited mobility, and around three-quarters of minibuses are wheelchair accessible. Training such as MiDAS Accessible helps drivers support disabled passengers safely and confidently. These foundations provide a strong platform for Community Transport to do more, particularly at key transition points such as moving from school to further education, training or employment.

Various passengers sat in a community transport vehicle

Who is involved

The project is led by the Community Transport Association and brings together a wide range of partners to ensure the research reflects lived experience, operational reality and policy context.

Lived experience sits at the heart of Creating Connections. The project centres the voices of disabled children, young people and their families, alongside the expertise of DPOs and CTOs. Individual stories and practical insight will shape the research, support engagement and ensure that the voices of disabled children and young people are heard clearly.

Community Transport Operators play a key role, contributing their experience of delivering services on the ground and helping to explore what is possible in different local contexts. Eight lead operators have been selected from around 30 who volunteered, ensuring a balance of countries, rural and urban areas, current providers and those not currently delivering services for disabled children and young people, as well as a mix of primary and secondary operators.

The eight lead Community Transport operators are:

Stakeholders and policy makers will also be engaged to help test learning, strengthen recommendations and support wider change.