Eastleigh Voluntary Transport Scheme was formally established on the 15th January 1982, when Eastleigh Council of Community Service officially took over ownership of two ageing Bonhomie minibuses at the request of the disbanding Eastleigh Welfare Bus Committee. Prior to that date, ECCS owned one twelve year old transit vehicle and acted as a booking agent for the Bonhomie vehicles which were used exclusively by organizations concerned with elderly and disabled people.
Since its inception, the scheme has grown rapidly, through the support of local funding authorities into a service operating eleven specialised minibuses, providing transport for elderly and disabled people and for community organizations throughout the Borough of Eastleigh.
The funding of a Head of Transport initially by Joint Finance, in later years by social Services and now by Hampshire County Council has provided the resource for the setting up, operating, and development of Eastleigh Voluntary Transport Scheme.
The original vehicles have now been replaced and additional vehicles have been purchased as part of a Joint Finance vehicle replacement programme and as a result of “one-off” grants from Social Services and the Community Fund.
The aims of Eastleigh Voluntary Transport Scheme are:
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To provide a cost effective transport pool for use by voluntary and statutory organisations in the area |
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To maximise the use of the operating capacity of the vehicles |
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To provide transport for new and existing services which provide for the needs of frail elderly and disabled people |
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To establish an ongoing replacement programme |
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To provide a transport consultancy to stimulate voluntary effectiveness in providing services |
The day-to-day management of the scheme is the responsibility of the Head of Transport who is accountable to the Transport Consultative Committee. They discuss recommendations made by him and if agreed are then passed to the Chief Executive to present to a Board of Trustees for ratification.
A professional approach has been sought to the management of the scheme in order to attain a high level of service to users and to make the maximum use out of all available resources. This approach is reflected through the tendering for repair and maintenance services and a general move to operate diesel vehicles. The aim of the service has always been to provide a cost effective and efficient service.
The scheme currently operates the following vehicles, which apart from one have all been converted to accommodate wheelchair passengers.
Model
Make
Registration Capacity
Fiat Ducato Romobus HT52 HSZ 14 pass or 6 pass & 5 wheelchairs Fiat Ducato Romobus GX02 SYO 15 pass or 6 pass & 5 wheelchairs Fiat Ducato Romobus GX02 SYP 15 pass or 6 pass & 5 wheelchairs Fiat Ducato Romobus GX02 SYR 15 pass or 6 pass & 5 wheelchairs Fiat Ducato Romobus GX02 SYS 15 pass or 6 pass & 5 wheelchairs Fiat Ducato Swain PO55 WHJ 15 pass or 6 pass & 5 wheelchairs Fiat Ducato Swain PO55 WHK 15 pass or 6 pass & 5 wheelchairs Fiat Ducato Swain PO55 WHH 15 pass or 6 pass & 5 wheelchairs Fiat Ducato Swain PO55 WHL 15 pass or 6 pass & 5 wheelchairs Renault Master under cons 14 passengers & 3 wheelchairs Vauxhall Novano HX54 ABU 12 Passengers
All vehicles conform to the requirements of the current legislation and the code of practise for the carriage of wheelchair passengers.
Vehicles are currently located in Pirelli General Car Park in Eastleigh at no cost to the scheme.
The transport staff arrange for routine vehicle checks to be carried out on a weekly basis and regular servicing, which has been contacted out to a local garage. A volunteer driver cleans the interior and exterior of the vehicles on a regular basis.
All groups using the scheme’s vehicles pay a mileage charge, which is currently fixed at 85p per mile. The charge covers the running costs of the vehicle and a small element of vehicle replacement costs.
The scheme’s vehicles are mainly driven by volunteer drivers. The original principle of the scheme was that groups would provide their own drivers. However, many newly initiated services for the elderly and housebound have required “driver supplied” vehicle, which is undertaken by a pool of volunteer drivers recruited by the Volunteer Bureau of Eastleigh Community Services. This has proved invaluable in developing the use of the vehicles. Over 40 driver-supplied services are operated per week. The number of drivers provided by the scheme also reflects the fact that an increasing proportion of the work is now related to the frail elderly and disabled.
Volunteer drivers who undertake regular work for Eastleigh Voluntary Transport Scheme are paid mileage from their homes to collect the vehicle and the return journey home, if they work all day they are also paid a lunch allowance. The current mileage rate is 40p per mile. The current lunch allowance is £3.00
All drivers undertake an assessment and training programme to MIDAS standards, before driving on behalf of the scheme.
EVTS can provide MIDAS training to outside organisations
Click Here to request further details
A network of twelve shopping trips throughout the Borough providing
door-to-door transport for those who are unable to use public transport.
Seven luncheon clubs for elderly people.
Twenty OAP social clubs.
Transporting elderly and disabled people to church
Transporting children with special needs to Playschemes
Transporting primary school children to Knightwood School and returning them home.
The vehicles are also used by local authority and voluntary sheltered housing schemes, the Mount Hospital, Eastleigh Access Group and many other organisations on a “one-off” basis.
The scheme also operates special summer outings and Christmas shopping trips for elderly and disabled groups, and for Eastleigh Dial-A-Ride users. As well as being popular these trips enable the vehicles to be utilised to their maximum capacity.
Over 246 groups are registered to use the scheme. Cover is also provided for the Eastleigh Dial-A-Ride and Hedge End Park services.
Over 2,500 passengers are transported on the vehicles each month.
