CTA’s Scotland Conference 2025: Healthy Communities
Thank you for joining us! Scroll down for today’s agenda.
Our new Healthy Communities Report underpins many of today’s discussions. To read more about our Healthy Communities research, click here.
Agenda
9.30am Doors Open
9.30am – 10.00am
Registration, Networking & Refreshments
10.00am – 10.05am
Welcome
Nicola Mitchell, Development Manager, CTA
10.05am – 10.15am
Opening Remarks
Dr Victoria Armstrong, Chief Executive, CTA
10.15am – 10.45am
Healthy Communities in Research: Our Report
David Kelly, Scotland Director and Head of Policy & Campaigns, CTA
In 2019, the Scottish Parliament passed legislation placing new duties on NHS Boards to work with Community Transport operators to improve access to health & social care. But nearly 6 years on, with NHS waiting lists longer than ever and NHS budgets under growing pressure, has there been any progress? And, if not, why not?
This presentation will share data and evidence from our new report uncovered by CTA through Freedom of Information requests, a nationwide operator survey and a pilot passenger survey.
10.45am – 11.15am
Healthy Communities in Action: Case Studies
Jeff Zycinski, Manager, Partnerships for Wellbeing
Donald MacNeill, Chief Executive, Comunn na Gàidhlig
Scotland’s public health challenges are well-known. An ageing population. An obesity and inactivity crisis. Intensifying demand for social care. A loneliness epidemic.
What community solutions does our sector offer? How are Community Transport operators helping to bring people together, encourage active travel or deliver non-emergency patient transport? And how can we capture this social value for funders, politicians and policymakers?
In this session, we’ll showcase and learn from two Community Transport operators making their communities healthier.
11.15am – 11.45am
Morning Networking Break
11.45am – 12.15pm
The MiDAS Transformation Journey
Dr Victoria Armstrong, Chief Executive, CTA
The Minibus Driver Awareness Scheme (MiDAS) has been the gold standard for enhancing the safety and care of passengers for 30 years. MiDAS provides a UKwide recognised standard for the assessment and training of drivers and passenger assistants to ensure that they have the skills and knowledge to provide safe, legal and comfortable journeys to passengers.
We’ll hear why CTA has been on a journey to modernise the content and delivery of each of the courses available under the MiDAS umbrella to ensure they are of the highest quality and fit for purpose for the 21st century. We’ll learn about the new MiDAS Passenger Assistant Training Scheme (PATS) training for anyone who has care or supervision responsibilities of passengers traveling by road, the latest to undergo transformation, joining MiDAS Standard and MiDAS Accessible.
12.15pm – 12.45pm
Lightning Talks: Our Partners
- BCD Insurance Services – Tristan Scaife
- Passenger Lift Solutions – Morgan Clissett
- EVM UK – Lorna Miller
- Motability Foundation – Dani De’ath
- The Fuel Store – Craig Kemp
- Mistral Specialist Vehicles – Cameron Yeoman
From major independent funders to UK corporates plugged-in to global supply chains, we’re partnering with people, businesses and organisations who share our values to shape and develop offers, opportunities and discounts that are tailored to the needs of Community Transport operators.
In this quick-fire Lightning Talks session, we’ll hear from 6 of CTA’s partners who can help you with funding, insurance, vehicle purchasing and leasing and more.
12.45pm – 1.30pm
Lunch & Networking
1.30pm – 2.30pm
Healthy Communities in Partnership: Policy & Practice
Dr Margaret Douglas, Consultant in Public Health, Public Health Scotland
Susan Forbes, Health Improvement Officer, Aberdeenshire Health & Social Care Partnership
Michael Simpson, Sustainability Manager (Transport & Active Travel), NHS Assure
How can we win better recognition, secure fairer funding and develop closer partnerships with our colleagues in health & social care? In this panel, we’ll hear experts, funders, policymakers and stakeholders from across the sector in conversation, discussing the key challenges and opportunities, as well as offering their advice and support.
2.30pm – 3.00pm
Afternoon Networking Break
3.00pm – 3.45pm
Healthy Communities in Action: Case Studies
Peter Fenton, Coordinator, South West Ross Community Car Scheme
Ewan Bush, Connecting Communities Project Officer, Garve and District Development Company
Jim Patterson, Beeline Community Transport
We’ll hear from 3 more Community Transport operators who are nurturing healthier communities across the Highlands and Moray. They’ll tell stories from their respective journeys as Community Transport operators, sharing ideas, innovations and inspiration for you to take home.
3.45pm – 4.00pm
Closing Remarks
Lara Henderson, Development Manager, CTA
4.00pm – 5.00pm
Drinks & Networking in the Waterside Bar
5.00pm Close
If you have any feedback about the day, we'd love to hear it. We'll be sending a survey out to you after the event, or you can reach out to us directly at scotland@ctauk.org