Welcome to Community Transport Week!

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I am so pleased to write this welcome to the first-ever Community Transport Week.

In the last year, I have had the pleasure of meeting and working with many of our wonderful members, virtually and at events throughout the UK. Every time I do, I am reminded of the passion and ingenuity of the CT sector.  

Why do we need CT week?   

Not everyone is aware of the value of Community Transport and the vital connections it provides to people and communities who would otherwise be unable to access health appointments, social opportunities or simply go to the shops. CT week is about shining a light on the work we do, celebrating the sector and spreading the word so that more and more people can learn from our stories and experiences. We want to inspire others to think about how they can create their own transport solutions from within their communities.  

Join the Community Transport Movement 

CT is more than just a form of transport. CT providers often come into existence because there are still so many people unable to access mainstream transport options. CT bridges these gaps and connects people to their communities. Here at CTA, we want to get people talking about how important this is and how they might be able to get involved. There are so many ways to join CTA in celebrating the sector this week, including: 

• Arranging for local/national politicians to join your passengers on a journey and capturing some photos/videos that show their support  
• Contacting local/national journalists with a press release [see our template] about your work and the activities you have planned.
• Using your social media channels to share pictures, videos, case studies, and reflections on your work with the hashtag #CTWeek23 – be a visible part of the Community Transport movement! 
• Hosting an event to celebrate your staff and volunteers – here’s a poster template to help you advertise locally.

Whether you decide to do something every day of the week or a one-off event/activity, we want to use #CTWeek23 to get people talking about the amazing work you do and the impact you have in your communities. 

Check out our campaign toolkit for more ideas, and don’t forget to let us know at comms@ctauk.org what you’re planning so we can help promote it! 

Vote for your favourite photo  

There is one simple way for everyone to get involved and I am thrilled to announce the launch of our CT’23 Photo Competition. During the CT’23 Awards Nominations, we asked CT providers to share images that capture the essence of Community Transport and what it means to the people they support. We have ten compelling images and incredible captions for you to choose from; the winner is entirely up to you. The winner will be announced at our Awards ceremony on 23rd November. And I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t take the opportunity to urge you to register for the CT’23 Conference and CT’23 Awards, if you haven’t already done so. 

Join me on Thursday 

Finally, I’ll admit that whilst I dabble on social media and find it a useful tool, I probably don’t do as much as I ought to. With that in mind I intend to devote Thursday to our social media accounts and invite everyone in the CT sector to share a “day in the life” and tag me on LinkedIn and Twitter and also tag CTA on both platforms. This could be a selfie, a snap of a vehicle, some passengers, the depot, a regular pick-up location, or perhaps a beautiful view from the community. I am looking forward to hearing from as many of you as possible.  

This week is all about connecting, strengthening our incredible CT sector, and celebrating our achievements. However big or small your celebration or contribution, please do get involved!  

Happy CT Week!