We all know a minibus gets passengers from point A to B, but what else can it do? Well, it turns out it can change someone’s life too.

Community Transport has been all over the news in Scotland in recent days thanks to the amazing story of Glenfarg Community Transport Group.

After the devastating withdrawal of an infrequent but essential Stagecoach service, the Perthshire village rolled up its sleeves and set up its own bus service with a mix of paid and volunteer drivers, connecting Glenfarg to neighbouring Kinross for GP appointments, shopping trips and onward journeys by public transport across the whole of Scotland.

CTA’s Chief Executive, Dr Victoria Armstrong, writes about the invaluable impact of CT Volunteers and why more people should get involved.

With this year’s National Volunteers’ Week upon us, we are reminded to reflect on volunteers’ significant and invaluable impact on the Community Transport sector throughout the UK. 

Drushti is a 22-year-old international student from Mumbai studying at the University of Bath.  Coming to the UK without her family and navigating University life alone has been daunting and Drushti often felt out of place and isolated.

Low Emission Zones are being established in Scotland in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow by Transport Scotland working with the respective local authorities in each city.

Are you ready?

The Community Transport Association (CTA) calls on all community transport (CT) operators to prioritise robust maintenance programmes to ensure the safety and compliance of their vehicles on the road.  

This call has become paramount following the decision of the Traffic Commissioner to revoke the permits of a CT operating below the required safety standards. Based on the evidence provided by the Traffic Commissioner, CTA has now made the decision to revoke the remaining permits issued to the Operator.

There is no gainsaying that people deserve transport options that enable them to connect with their community, even if they have mobility-restricting disabilities or any other factor that may result in additional transport needs.

Community Transport is leading the way to net zero thanks to new investment from Transport Scotland with support from Energy Saving Trust and backed by CTA’s Team Scotland.

We’re delighted that 18 Community Transport operators across Scotland will benefit from £1.6 million of new funding to purchase Electric Vehicles (EVs) after being successful in the second round of the Plugged-In Communities Grant Fund.

People are at the heart of Community Transport – the people who rely on the sector’s services and the people who work so hard to keep its wheels turning every single day.

Could carbon literacy training help you and your organisation respond to the Climate Emergency? 

Lara shares her reflections on CTA’s recent experience