It’s #CommunityTransportWeek, so we thought we’d jump aboard a community bus to see what it means to its passengers. Graham Audin, Manager at Community Transport South Wiltshire Group (CTSW), kindly invited us to Salisbury and aboard their shopper bus.
EVM supplied the Cityline used for the Amesbury Hoppa, a timetabled service that connects the residents of Amesbury and carries over 30,000 passengers each year. But it was their Shopper Bus in Salisbury that we joined for the day.
The service provides a lifeline for 11 passengers living in the rural areas around the city of Salisbury. The door-to-door service runs every Wednesday and means that members can run errands, visit the bank and the pharmacy, shop and catch up with friends.
The day began with a quick debrief, and then we were out travelling the beautiful, narrow lanes around Salisbury. We used this time to get to know Adrian, our driver, and find out what he likes about working for the Community Transport Group.
Adrian is a retired police officer who worked for decades in the Transport division, so he’s no stranger to the roads. He drives once a week, always on the shopper service, and thoroughly enjoys every shift. Adrian says of his role: “It never feels like you are going to work or it’s a chore. I always enjoy my Wednesday mornings. They’re all just such interesting people.”
You’d think that after 30 years serving the communities of Wiltshire he’d more than fulfilled his civic duty, but he says he still wanted to ‘give something back’. He said: “I am fortunate that I can enjoy my retirement. I have the time to do this role, and it helps me to get out and connect with other people… Driving the service also means I get to run errands and make the most of my days. Today I happened to bump into a friend in town. He’d moved away years ago! Now, when I have finished work, I will pop out and have a catch-up.”
Adrian often joins his passengers for a chat, coffee and pastry in Greggs. In fact, he was the one who introduced the group to their now-renowned sausage rolls. “Have you heard of Greggs sausage rolls?” they asked us. “They’re amazing.”
He told us about a remarkable passenger called Rose: “She was incredible – 99 and still using the bus! She’d worked as a nurse and studied at Oxford, and one day casually dropped into conversation that she had gained a black belt in her martial art at the age of 93 – as far as she knew, the oldest woman to do so. When I asked why, she replied: ‘In case anyone tries to jump me.’ A very interesting woman indeed, and at her funeral, her swords decorated her coffin.”
Able and willing drivers are not something to be taken for granted. From talking to the passengers, it was clear how highly Adrian was thought of, and how well the whole group got on. Riding the bus with them all that day was a joy. One of the regulars had been too poorly to come for a couple of weeks, and everyone asked after her progress and health. These people weren’t just passengers, but a group of genuine friends who all cared for one another.
Adrian has the contact details for everyone on the bus and checks who will be using the service the following week to make sure the bus picks them up. He helps them with their bags to and from the vehicle and looks out for them in town.
Adrian recalls one day in town when one of the passengers wasn’t feeling 100%. He explains: “I spotted her from across the road getting ready to return to the bus. I saw the colour suddenly drain from her face and made it just in time to catch her before she fainted.”
Knowing that someone is not simply driving them to town but also looking out for them helps passengers stay confident and maintain their independence.
South Wiltshire Community Transport Group is a member of the Community Transport Association (CTA), which launched its Tackling Loneliness project in May 2022. Through the project, 61% of rural passengers said community transport had a positive impact on their feelings of loneliness, isolation and companionship. Research highlighted by the CTA has also estimated that community transport could save £0.75 billion a year by reducing older people’s reliance on health and social services.
Edna used to run the Post Office and was once truly embedded in the community. After a terrible burglary, she was forced to give up her job, as the responsibility of running the Post Office while caring for her husband, who was tetraplegic, became too much. She loves the time she spends with her friends on the bus, but explains that it’s also essential for getting to medical appointments. She said: “I live just 20 yards from a surgery, but I can never get an appointment. I have been told that I must travel to another surgery much further away. I needed to get my flu jab, and the only place I could get an appointment was a pharmacy in Salisbury.”
All the passengers still live in their own homes and lead largely independent lives, catching up on other days throughout the week and making the most of the services within the Salisbury community.
The average age of the members is 83, although Adrian recalls a passenger who was much older: “We had one passenger who was 103. She stopped using the service because she said that she was ‘simply too busy’. She lived until 107!”
John, who speaks in our video, expressed his deep appreciation for the service and for Adrian. After a frightening bout of severe Covid and a subsequent stay in hospital, he lost the ability to walk. He said: “The bus is brilliant – it’s the one thing I rely on each week.”
EVM UK & Ireland’s Marketing Manager, Alex O’Loughlin, explains how the day made her feel: “The day we spent with the Salisbury Shopper crew will forever have a place in our hearts. Many of our days are spent behind a computer, and you don’t often get the opportunity to meet the people who value the products you bring to market. It was a very heartfelt experience, and we learned so much about how people use our vehicles, as well as gaining ideas for the future.”
To use the CTSW shopper service, passengers must join the membership group. Once they are members, they can travel free using their concessionary bus pass.
CTSW also runs a car scheme, group bookings and the Amesbury Hoppa service for the public. Discover more about Community Transport South Wiltshire Group (CTSW): ctswsalisbury.uk
Watch our heart warming video about the friends that use this vital bus service >>
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