The need for our vital service will continue

The need for our vital service will continue

21 January 2015

A LOCAL transport organisation which provides support to isolated people across the district is planning to meet increasing demand, despite concerns about future financial support.

Based in Downpatrick, Down Community Transport has a number of arms which include providing transport services for groups and individuals in a wide geographical area across Down District and the North Down and Ards areas.

One of the key planks of the organisation is the dial-a-lift service — supported financially by the Department of Regional Development — which ferries people to GP and hospital appointments, shops and businesses and community events.

Launched over 15 years ago, the need for Down Community Transport services continues to grow, with those who provide it planning to meet that rising demand, despite concerns about future government funding allocations to community organisations.

The local transport provider is working with politicians and its various partners to plan a financially sustainable way of providing community transport to vulnerable people, in particular, those who live in isolated rural areas, through the increasingly popular dial-a-lift service.

Francie Casement, the organisation’s chairman, said that given the area’s ageing population, there will be a need for increased resources to be made available to meet people’s transport demands.

He said Translink’s proposal to axe services in the district’s three main towns and outlying rural areas due to budget cuts will result in an increase in demand for services provided by Down Community Transport.

Mr. Casement continued: “Given the current economic climate, there are external pressures as with any business, but we are seeking support from our politicians and others to assist us in finding solutions to the transport needs of our community.

“The community needs to take ownership of these transport issues and work collaboratively to maximise the use of existing services. At Down Community Transport we have learned that no ‘one size fits all’ and we need to engage in a process of dialogue with existing and new service providers and community groups to offer more innovative and flexible responses to transport requirements which best suit everyone’s needs,” he explained.

Mr. Casement said there was a need for everyone to work to find solutions in order that “the most vulnerable in society do not continue to be further excluded and marginalised.”

“We do not know what lies ahead in terms of the level of future funding we may receive. That is a bridge we will have to cross when we come to it.

“In the meantime, we must continue to focus on working to meet the increasing demand for the service we provide, not just in Down District, but in North Down and Ards.

“The Department of Regional Development is our main funder but we don’t know from one year to the next how much money we will receive. The government department has been consistent in its support for what we do and we are most grateful.”

Mr. Casement said Down Community Transport will discover in March its funding allocation for the new financial year, with everyone associated with the organisation hoping there will be no major reduction which would result in “inevitable cuts.”

He added: “Our funding has been reduced in the past, but we continued to provide our range of services which benefit a wide range of individuals, groups and organisations. Given the increase in the demand we are planning to expand what we do to meet growing need.”