Transport service helps young people go somewhere (February 19, 2010)

Children and young people in Suffolk Coastal can now get around to evening and weekend events as the Going Somewhere youth transport service is offering much needed transport across the district.

The transport service will be launched in two phases. The first will introduce a brokerage service, giving any youth club or organisation access to travel so that young people can come along to after school activities and weekend and holiday clubs.

“The youth transport service is a great addition to the district and will support a significant number of young people aged 5 to 19 all over the district. It will help them to take part in activities they would not have been able to access and also improve the quality of their leisure time,” said Cllr Doreen Savage, Suffolk Coastal Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) Board Member for Young People.

The service will be available from Monday, February 22. Clubs and organisations can register for the service or volunteer their vehicles by contacting the Coastal Accessible Transport Service (CATS) team based in Leiston which already provides community transport services Dial-a-ride and Coastlink.

“We are still pinpointing the exact hours and locations the service will be able to help on a regular basis but we hope to have the service up and running during weekday evenings, school holidays and weekends so that young people will get the most out of it,” added Cllr Savage.

The second phase of the project is a demand led service where individuals or small groups can request and book transport in advance for a small flat fee. This second service will be available from April 2, on a limited basis as and when volunteer drivers and vehicles are available.

“It will be a much needed resource for many young people, especially in the more rural parts of our district, that are unable to participate in local group activities or attend events because of limited access to travel or lack of public transport in their area.

“There is the potential to help a great number of young people in the district and I am confident that many local groups will be keen to sign up and make use of the service. This is the perfect opportunity for young people to take up something new and I hope that a great number will do so and no longer be hindered from joining in because of travel arrangements,” added Cllr Savage.

For more information about the transport service or how to get involved volunteering with the service, residents can contact the CATS team, which are organising the brokerage service on 01728 830516 or email lynn.butler@cats-paws.co.uk or andrew.down@suffolk.gov.uk

The Going Somewhere youth transport service is a Suffolk Coastal LSP project supported by Suffolk County Council’s Transport and Youth Service, Extended Services, volunteer youth groups Level 2, Rochford House and CYDS and Suffolk Coastal District Council.