CLMS: Tackling Isolation, Four Wheels at a Time

How we used our Minibus to strengthen local connections

Churchill and Langford Minibus Society (CLMS) have been operating day trips and shopping outings for local residents across a number of villages in North Somerset for over 50 years. The service enables older people to get out to the shops and on outings. However, residents find that as mobility issues and personal needs increase, the pick-up and drop-off outings service becomes less suitable for them – creating a clear gap in service provision for residents at an elevated risk of isolation.

The villages where CLMS operates are growing rapidly in scale whilst losing essential services such as village post offices, banks and other casual meeting places – this increases isolation for already at risk groups and ironically, the increase in population only increases this risk further. Public transport infrastructure fails to keep up and roads are adjusted to increase and prioritise private motor vehicle access ahead of pedestrian needs. Previously quiet village roads become much busier and increasingly dangerous to navigate on foot and by car, especially for older people, further limiting resident’s potential for activities outside of the home within their immediate communities.

What did we do:

We established new groups, using our existing minibus; less like a transport service and more like a mobile community centre.

We pick up residents from their homes and take them for social outings where they can also be supported to participate. Groups are formed within small neighbourhoods, rather than mixing participants across a number of villages; to strengthen social conne tions in small geographical areas and ensure friendships and support networks can continue beyond the outings.

How we did it:

A pilot neighbourhood was chosen as a trial area and a leaflet drop occurred in that neighbourhood. Leaflets are an important information strategy, as our target group are less active on social media.

An initial meeting was called via the leaflets to advise residents of the group and to gauge interest. At this meeting, names and contact details were taken, and initial outings planned.

Once the group was established, other local residents were referred to the group by local support services or by word of mouth.

This process has been repeated in three local neighbourhoods, utilising the same community minibus service in a novel way and using spare capacity within the existing service.

The group goes out for shorter coffee trips twice per month, with one larger outing which is voted on by the group. Voting ensures that the group serves the needs of the participants, not just the needs or wishes of the organiser.

Each chosen neighbourhood is sufficiently small to ensure that all participants live close to one another, increasing the opportunity to connect, socialise and support one another outside of their regular outing.

We have found it is important to curate a mix of participants, ranging from individuals who require assistance with mobility and transport, to individuals who still comfortably drive – this enables the group to operate with just one worker, and increases potential for mutual support beyond the outings. For a group with higher needs you might consider an additional worker or volunteer to ensure the group is fully supported.

The result is an effective, easy to implement service, with real benefits for our local community – if you have spare capacity in your local minibus service, why not give it a go too!

Initial outcomes:

• We have two established groups with a third on the way
• The first group now always runs outings at 75% to over 100% of capacity (some participants will drive themselves and others to the meeting location when the bus is full)
• As a direct result of this project, social connections between participants have formed or increased and participants have new or strengthened connections with friends in the community who they can rely on for support.

If you’d like to learn more, or get tips and advice for your own service – get in touch with Jai at: jai.villageconnect@gmail.com