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Health Board are Proud to Support 2nd Year for 'Transport to Health' Project

The Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (ABUHB) funded Transport to Health project has re-opened for applications after a successful first year of initiatives. Funding from the project helps community organisations from across the greater Gwent area support patients, visitors, and staff to get to healthcare sites.

The fund can provide up to £10,000 to new applicants who wish to develop new or existing not-for-profit transport services to health sites. There is also the opportunity for up to £7,500 continuation grant funding for last year’s successful applicants.

Transport to Health’s eight successful initiatives so far have included supporting three projects run by community organisations brand new to transport, as well as five managed by existing operators who wanted to enhance their existing service. Four followed a volunteer car scheme model, where volunteer drivers use their own vehicles to provide journeys, and four adopted a dial-a-ride type scheme using the organisation’s vehicles with voluntary or paid drivers behind the wheel.

Transport to Health were able to help all these projects with financial grants as well as mentoring from a dedicated Regional Community Transport Coordinator, plus additional support from the other Project Partners involved, including representatives from the Community Transport Association, the regions three County Voluntary Councils – GAVO (Gwent), TVA (Torfaen) and PAVO (Powys), and the Health Board themselves.

“Being able to support eight projects in our first year was very rewarding. However, Transport to Health appointments and venues is an enormous area of need and there is still much work that needs to be done across all the boroughs” says Faye Mear, the Regional Community Transport Coordinator

“Starting a new initiative can be very daunting and it’s great that our project can offer knowledge and mentoring as well as financial support. Myself and the other Project Partners can all offer guidance and support to schemes every step of the way.” Faye continued

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board’s support for this initiative was nationally recognised with them being awarded Community Transport Champion of the Year at the Community Transport Awards last year.

“The Health Board recognise the importance and value of community transport to the areas we serve. We are pleased to be able to provide the funding for the Transport to Health project for a second year and be a key partner in making sure transport providers are given the resources to meet this important challenge.” Steve Bonser, Head of Transformational Change at ABUHB.

Transport to Health is also supported by the Community Transport Association (CTA) and is encouraged by County Voluntary Councils.

"It has never been so important to safeguard and develop transport solutions that truly work for the communities they serve. We know that community transport provides a lifeline to people living in the Health Board’s area, and we are excited to continue to be part of this partnership to support and grow this vital form of transport.” Said Gemma Lelliott, Director for Wales, CTA.

“TVA and the other County Voluntary Councils that work with the communities within the Aneurin Bevan Health Board region encourage applications to this fund and welcome applicants to use the resources we have available, such as project development support and volunteer recruitment.” Said Pat Powell Health, Social Care & Wellbeing Co-ordinator at Torfaen Voluntary Alliance

“We were very pleased to support and promote the Transport to Health work Age Connects Torfaen undertook last year after being successfully awarded grant funding to provide Transport to Hospital, Vaxi-Taxi and Hospital Discharge service for over-50s in the Torfaen area.” She continued.

To find out more or apply for funding, people can complete the application pack which can be accessed on the Community Transport Association website - https://ctauk.org/aneurin-bevan-transport-to-health/