How we used our Minibus to strengthen local connections

Churchill and Langford Minibus Society (CLMS) ha

Community Transport Week 2026 is well underway, and it's been fantastic to see organisations across the UK getting involved and sharing their celebrations.

This year's theme, Driving Communities Forward, celebrates the people, organisations and partnerships that make Community Transport possible.

From behind-the-scenes videos and volunteer celebrations to sharing stories that demonstrate the difference Community Transport makes every day, organisations have been finding their own ways to mark the occasion.

A transport network is only accessible when every stage of the journey is accessible. For Sharon Gordon, the biggest barrier is not boarding a bus or train, but safely reaching the point where her journey starts.

Sharon is blind and lives in a rural area where the nearest bus stop is 1.2 miles from her home and the nearest train station is four miles away. With no continuous footpath, neither can be reached safely or independently. Although bus and rail services are available, they remain effectively inaccessible to Sharon without additional support.

By Gemma Lelliot, Director for Wales 

By Abi Shotter, Development Officer for England

The Princess of Wales visited West Sussex Minibus, joining passengers on board one of their services before spending time at Pulborough's weekly lunch club.

The visit provided a unique opportunity for Her Royal Highness to see first-hand the life changing impact of community transport and the vital role it plays in helping people remain connected to their communities.

Meaningful community engagement can help community transport organisations understand what people really need, identify gaps in existing services and make informed decisions about the future.

At our latest Connect & Learn session, we explored different approaches to community engagement, with insights from CTA’s own research and a practical example from Island of Hoy Development Trust in Orkney.