Community Transport

Community Transport [communitytransport.org] is a national registered charity and a company limited by guarantee. The charity operates 11 transport-related projects countrywide including Manchester and Salford. The charity has over 130 paid employees, and a pool of some 300 volunteers and New Deal trainees. Since 2001/2 the company has developed 3 new projects and turnover has jumped by over 40% to £2.4m, of which over 50% is "earned", as opposed to grant aid.

Communities consist of a diversity of people and Community Transport work on the assumption that an available, adaptable and cost effective transport scheme plays a pivotal role in the move towards equality and social inclusion.

Their passenger transport services are focused on other voluntary and community sector groups and individuals facing barriers to conventional services. The transport fleet consists of 65 (mostly wheelchair accessible) minibuses, enabling local people to participate fully in their chosen activity, interest and/or social travel needs.

The charity also manages furniture recycling services in six areas including Salford. This involves the low cost distribution of donated second hand furniture through a fleet of 15 goods vans. This is often combined with low cost removals and other goods transport work for socially excluded individuals and families.

Community Transport Salford [ct_salford] [ct underscore salford] is based at 1 Hope Street Salford, (phone 0161 736 8852). It has strong partnerships with Social Services, the PCT, GMPTE, a joint venture with the City Council, Lower Kersal NDC manage a minibus for their area.

Over 25,000 passengers driven by 114 drivers have been taken to over 2000 destinations in the last year. Furniture collections from 859 homes have been delivered to 900 houses and there have been 75 removals.