TIVERTON and District Community Transport Association (TDCTA), the local registered charity based in Crediton and Tiverton, provides transport solutions for members of the local community who find it difficult to use public transport.

It offers a range of services including a Voluntary Car Scheme, Shop mobility and Ring and Ride Buses with trained drivers and fully accessible vehicles covering routes around Devon.

These services take passengers into Tiverton, Crediton, Cullompton and other local towns and regularly improve people’s quality of life by giving them mobility, and independence - as well as benefiting local shops and businesses, which in turn helps the growth of the local economy.

Due to the current economic climate, the association grant funding support is reducing every year so it is always thinking up new ways to raise funds to enable it to continue to provide much-needed services to our area’s elderly, disabled and vulnerable customers.

This year, the charity’s latest venture is to hold a Silent Auction, with a Presentation Evening at the end of the event, on Saturday, May 19, at Moorhayes Community Centre, Tiverton.

The charity is currently writing to businesses to ask if they would consider supporting this worthy cause by offering a prize for the Auction.

If you can help, please email: Sarah Holmes, Transport Co-Ordinator, Crediton and District Community Transport Association working in partnership with Tiverton and District Community Transport Association at: [email protected] .

Alternatively, call into the Crediton and District Community Transport Association at Crediton Town council offices, Market Street, Crediton, telephone: 01363 773303 or the Tiverton office at: Multi Storey Car Park, Phoenix Lane, Tiverton, Devon, EX16 6NB. Telephone: 01884 242099.

DONATION

Sarah said that the Passenger Club the charity operates recently received a £1,000 donation from the Kelly Trust, and she thanked the Trust very much for its generosity.

She explained: "The Passenger Club service is an add-on to our Ring and Ride service.

"Our friendly, professional driver picks up people from their door in the fully accessible minibus. There is an electric tail-lift on the back of the minibus to accommodate anybody in a wheelchair or to assist anybody who cannot use the steps.

"The minibus travels to a different destination each day, either visiting a local market town, seaside town or garden centre and usually finishes with a meal at a local inn.

"Currently the Crediton Passenger Club operates twice a week (every Tuesday and Thursday) and once-a-month on a Saturday.

"As our Passenger Club is becoming increasingly popular we are now looking to expand this service to be able to reach more elderly, lonely people – we would love to be able to offer this service every Saturday and possibly some Sundays.

"Upon speaking to many of our clients we have realised the weekends can be a particularly lonely time for them, so we would love to be able to help ease the loneliness by offering regular weekend days out."

For further details about the services, please visit: www.creditoncommunitytransport.org.uk or: www.tdcta.org.uk .