Wiltshire Wheels-to-Work is a moped loan scheme for people aged 16+ living in rural communities in Wiltshire and Swindon who have been offered a job or paid vocational training opportunity but cannot take it up due to transport problems.

The scheme, which is managed by Community First, works by loaning 50cc mopeds for up to 6 months along a fully subsidised Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) test and safety equipment (helmet, jacket, gloves and a hi-viz vest) in return for a small fee of £10 per week (riders will be expected to meet their fuel costs).

Who can the scheme help?
People living in rural parts of Wiltshire or Swindon who have had a firm offer of employment or paid vocatonal training that they are unable to reach by public trasnport or any other means of transport.

How can people apply?
To apply you must be receiving help or benefits from your local Connexions or Job Centre Plus branch. Potential riders will be referred to the scheme by Job Centre Plus and Connexions after they have filled out an application form held by their advisers. This form will ask for details about where potential riders live, what their current employment situation is, what their transport needs are and what financial means they have available to them as a means of considering whether people are eligible for support via the scheme.

Before applying, potential riders will also need to have a provisional or full driving licence to ride a moped. Forms are available from the Post Office.

What happens then?
If applicants are considered eligible for support, a co-ordinator will be in contact to arrange a meeting with them and their parent(s)/guardian(s) present (where appropriate). If deemed suitable for support, the co-ordinator will then book riders in for their CBT having drawn up a contract with them beforehand which sets out the terms of use for the scheme (riders under 18 will need their parent(s)/guardian(s) to act as a guarantor).

On successful completion of the CBT and a further safety training lesson, a moped with lock plus a helmet, jacket and gloves will be provided to the rider.

What about insurance?
All Wiltshire Wheels-to-Work mopeds will be fully taxed and insured by Community First but it is strongly advised that riders take out personal accident insurance before joining the scheme.

What about servicing?
The mopeds will be serviced by a number of approved motorcycle dealers across Wiltshire and Swindon. All servicing costs will be covered by the scheme but you will be expected to take the moped to the dealer. Servicing is generally completed every 1800 miles.

Can the mopeds be used other than just for work?
As well as using the moped to get to work or paid vocational training (up to 40 miles there and back), riders will also be allowed to use their moped for leisure purposes although to ensure the privilege is not abused, the scheme's co-ordinator will meet up with the rider on a regular basis to discuss how the moped is being used. This meeting will also be a chance for the rider to talk about their employment/paid vocational training issues and to have basic maintenance checks made to their moped. At this meeting the rider will also pay for their wear and tear contributions for the moped.

What happens after the moped is given back?
Each person issued with a moped will be encouraged to take up a Credit Union savings plan during the six months that they are supported by the scheme to help them towards buying their own vehicle at the end of the lease term.


Follow this link to download the End of Year Report - April 2008. (PDF File - 307kb)