History

Back and 4th Transport (B&4th) was established in 2002 after a survey carried out by the Stratford Rural Transport Partnership concluded that there was little or no access for most community and social groups to a group hire minibus service.

Applications for funding were submitted to The Rural Bus Challenge and the Countryside Agency to purchase 2 fully wheelchair accessible minibuses and run a project for 2 years. Funding was granted and the project commenced operations in October 2002 and employed Judith Hill as the Community Transport Co-ordinator.

Organisations such as sheltered housing schemes and youth groups were able to hire vehicles from B&4th with a fully qualified volunteer driver at a subsidised cost. The service was very well received and before too long B&4th was securing regular weekly bookings.

Initially the service was only offered to community and voluntary organisations in the Stratford on Avon District but it soon became apparent that there was a siginificant need for an individual wheelchair accessible transport service.

The project was being inundated with requests from individual wheelchair users to take them to medical appointments or to social occasions and whilst we could use the larger vehicles to do this they were not best suited to the individuals' needs. An application was made to SRB6 Promoting Inclusion and Excellence Fund and Stratford District Council to purchase a smaller wheelchair accessible vehicle and employ a part time project assistant. Funding was granted and Jonathan Bayliss was employed as the Assistant Transport Co-ordinator in June 2005. A Mercedes Vito vehicle was also purchased which is fully wheelchair accessible.

Funding

The original project funding ran out in March 2005, the project was then given continuation funding through Warwickshire County Council's Transport Operations Budget and Stratford Area Committee.

Management

The project is currently managed by Warwickshire Rural Community Council (WRCC). WRCC manages the day to day aspects of the project and employs the project staff. A Management Team made up of representatves from WCC, WRCC and B&4th meet on a quarterly basis to discuss any operational issues the project is facing and monitor the project's progress towards its aims and objectives.