To tackle disadvantage, the Community First Community Transport Team offers operational advice to 22 community minibus schemes across Wiltshire and Swindon and community transport advice to any other organisation with a community focus.

The type of support offered to 22 local community minibus schemes by the Community First Community Transport Team includes:

• Technical advice about operating a community minibus
• Driver training* and management committee training
• Help with fundraising
• Small grants for new or improved services
• Assistance with developing new passenger services

(* includes the provision of Minibus Driver Awareness Scheme (MiDAS) training  - minibus driver training of a nationally recognised standard at just £95 per driver).

The Community First Community Transport Team also provides support to the umbrella body representing most community minibus groups across Wiltshire and Swindon known as the Wiltshire and Swindon Community Transport Association (W&SCTA.) For more information about the work of the W&SCTA please click here.

The Community First Community Transport Team also offers the following services to other organisations with a community focus (such as parish councils, local businesses, schools, and local authorities)

• Assistance to help develop new community transport projects that improve access to services and facilities in Wiltshire and Swindon (such as new community minibus services)
• A small grants scheme for new or improved community transport initiatives and other measures which have a lasting effect on improving access to services and facilities in Wiltshire and Swindon
• Assistance to not-for-profit organisations that run minibuses
  with claiming a government grant to rebate some of the duty paid on fuel (known as Bus Services Operator’s Grant or BSOG)
• Bespoke community transport consultancy advice