BASILDON Council has agreed to continue providing a yearly £76,000 grant to the Basildon Community Transport service, for the next three years.

The decision to award the grant funding to the local charity based in the George Hurd Centre, was unanimously agreed by councillors at a Housing and Communities Committee meeting.

The council had previously granted two three-year Grant Funding Agreements (GFA's) for the period 1 April 2018 – 31 March 2021 – one being for the provision of Community Transport (£50,000) and the other for General Services (£26,000).

Chairman of the Committee, Cllr Kerry Smith said: "Basildon Community Transport Service (BCTS) has been providing support to the older and disabled community across the Basildon borough for over 20 years.

"They provide our older, less mobile residents, who are unable to use public transport, with the ability to travel without restriction. This contributes to clients continuing to live independently in their own home, providing clients with a greater sense of wellbeing and quality of life.

"During the pandemic they've had to adapt; providing befriending calls to their members to ensure they are safe and to reduce social isolation and loneliness.

"The services they provide to older and vulnerable residents in the borough are crucial. I'm thrilled that we have agreed to continue granting the charity £76,000 for the next three years, to ensure the service can continue for older and vulnerable residents of the borough. And I'm sure the service users themselves will be thrilled too."

There are four key community transport services provided by BCTS, these are: Dial A Ride (transport provided on the BCTS minibuses), Social Car (transport provided by volunteers using their private vehicles to transport passengers), Group Hire (groups and organisations using BCTS minibuses for group activity, such as outings) and Section 22 journeys (Passengers using BCTS minibuses who have a Concessionary Fares Bus Pass).

General services offered by the BCTS include a wheelchair loan scheme, shopping escort service and a toenail cutting service.