Who can drive for Community Transport Services?

A variety of people, of both sexes, offer their time to community transport schemes. Retired, early retired, those in part-time employment, those with time to spare. And they come from all walks of life. A caring approach and a liking of the open road are really the only requirements.

Passengers are carried daily, many trips are in and around town, but others are further afield. Drivers can specify on which days and times they are available and which type of journey they would/would not wish to do.

All journeys are paid for. Some by passengers paying cash directly to the driver, others are paid for by Social Services or other organisations at the end of each month. Costs are calculated by using a mileage allowance, approved by Suffolk or Norfolk County Councils, based on AA/RAC figures for the overall running costs of a car (including fuel, insurance, tax, servicing).

At the end of each month drivers tell us what mileage they have travelled and we send them a cheque for the appropriate amount using the agreed mileage rate.   Provided the distance covered in a year on BACT journeys does not exceed 13,000 miles no tax liability is incurred on the allowance received.  Above that mileage it is the drivers' responsibility to inform the Inland Revenue.