Minister Launches New £1m Rural Community Transport Enterprise Programme

Minister launches new £1m rural community transport enterprise programme at CTA conference

Today, Transport Minister Sadiq Khan launches a new £1m programme to support rural community transport organisations in England develop their enterprise orientation to become more sustainable. The three year programme has been established by the CTA and the Plunkett Foundation.

Sadiq Khan said: "Good transport links are an essential life line for rural communities
- and it’s not just a question of the number of bus services, but about going to the right
places at the right times. That’s why I’m so pleased that we’re able to help fund this
important Rural Social Enterprise Programme. Encouraging organisations to become
more sustainable will ensure services are maintained and developed for those
passengers that need them most.”

The programme will offer grant, loan and development support packages to eight rural community transport organisations around England to enable them to significantly grow their contract income. The funding package will be backed up by a range of training, development and networking support provided by the CTA and Plunkett over the life of the programme. The package of funding has been provided by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, the Department for Transport, the Commission for Rural Communities and The Social Investment Business.

Keith Halstead, Chief Executive of the CTA said “We look forward to receiving applications from third sector organisations providing local transport services who wish to serve even more people in rural areas thereby improving the quality of life for the communities of which they are part.”

Peter Couchman, Chief Executive of the Plunkett Foundation added “ Social enterprises are at the forefront of service delivery in rural communities. This programme will enable rural communities to take control of transport issues affecting them through becoming more enterprising and sustainable.”

Applications are invited from tomorrow (19th November) - Social Enterprise Day - and the closing date is Monday 4th January 2010.

ENDS

Notes for editors:

For press enquiries, please contact Ewan Jones at the CTA on 0161 351 1475 or at ewan@ctauk.org.

The CTA is a UK-wide charity giving voice and providing leadership, learning and enterprise support to member organisations across the third sector, delivering innovative and flexible transport solutions to achieve social change. Further information at www.ctauk.org.

The Plunkett Foundation promotes and supports community ownership, co-operatives and social enterprises in rural communities in the UK and internationally. It provides support, networks and knowledge to help rural communities to be aware of, understand and implement practical solutions to the challenges that they are facing. Further information at www.plunkett.co.uk.

Voluntary and community transport exists to meet the travel and social needs of people to whom these would otherwise be denied because of age, disability, location etc. It provides accessible and affordable transport to achieve social inclusion.

The Rural Social Enterprise Programme flows from original research funded by the Department for Transport and carried out by the CTA and Plunkett. The final research report is available at http://www.ctauk.org/index.aspx?id=756.