On Friday 25th March Sarah Dines MP visited Eyam Community Transport.
Sarah Dines MP said, ‘I had the pleasure of being invited to visit Eyam Community Transport on Friday and I was very lucky that the weather was fantastic. The organisation has around 60 people involved, which includes paid employees and volunteers and there was a great sense of camaraderie. The General Manager, Mr Andrew Coxon, heads up the team and has created the most wonderful team spirit which appears to disseminate through all those involved. I was struck by the happy, family atmosphere at the Eyam Community Transport hub, which is based in Great Longstone. Everyone there seems completely dedicated to offering the most wonderful service for some of our most vulnerable constituents. They offer a community bus service, which picks people up from rural locations within this part of the constituency and takes them to places like Bakewell. They also take people to lunch events at local pubs and pick them up later – which offers those who live alone the opportunity to socialise and make new friends. The pandemic has highlighted just how important it is for us all to socialise, but especially for our more vulnerable community members.
They also offer a private car service, where constituents can be taken to hospital and other appointments – this has been particularly valuable in enabling people to get their Covid vaccines.
Whilst there is a cost for each journey, there is also a financial hardship fund, so those who are unable to cover the cost are paid for out of this fund. Eyam Community Transport has links with the second-hand bookshop, Book End Books in Bakewell. All profit raised from the sale of the books is channelled back into improving the facilities offered by the community transport organisation.
This is a fantastic organisation and I am very grateful to have been invited to visit.’
