Linking CommunitiesDear all,
A shortage of accessible transport and access to vital services invariably features as a top priority in many, if not all rural surveys. Transport and access to basic services are two critical issues of concern facing rural areas. They impact on people's ability to access employment, education, shopping, health services and can influence their quality of life. They affect the viability of rural businesses, and can determine the character of the countryside itself. Transport and access to services are therefore integral to many themes of RCCE’s work.
The aim of Linking Communities is to develop partnerships and facilitate projects that improve access to employment, education, health and leisure facilities, and that enhance other essential services in rural areas.
This will be achieved by working closely with local communities to identify needs, particularly the needs of disadvantaged and socially excluded individuals, and solutions that address these needs
Please explore the rest of the Linking Communities webpage for more information about our work in the county implementing suitable solutions at ground level and influencing regional thinking at a strategic level.
Regards
Kris Radley, Rural Transport and Access Adviser Click here to download the RCCE Transport and Access to Services leaflet. To view this leaflet you will need a Adobe PDF reader. Please use our Links page to download one if required.
1) The Story so far, 1999 – present A brief history of transport projects within RCCE and details of the current Linking Communities Project.
The Essex Rural Transport Partnership (ERTP) was established in April 1999 and was among one of the first Rural Transport Partnerships to be formed in the country. The ERTP was set up as a voluntary sector led initiative bringing together the statutory, community and voluntary sectors. The Rural Community Council of Essex was the lead partner and host organisation for the ERTP co-ordinator.
The ERTP was established with the intention of alleviating social exclusion throughout rural Essex by providing a forum for the solving of rural transport problems and supporting transport initiatives, which serve the accessibility needs of rural communities. Over the years the main method used to achieve this aim was to channel Countryside Agency funding into innovative transport schemes that were able to provide better access to key services and opportunities for those in rural areas. As well as funding projects that promote and facilitate independent living and social inclusion, the ERTP has also encouraged transport schemes that enable rural regeneration and community viability.
As of March 2006 Linking Communities, a new project which has stemmed from the over-riding success of the Essex Rural Transport Partnership (ERTP), has been launched to address many of the key priorities set by the ERTP. The new project will continue to enhance rural transport services and will also have the focus to develop partnerships and facilitate projects that improve access to employment, education, health and leisure facilities, and that enhance other essential services in rural areas.
As with ERTP the main priorities will be achieved by working closely with local communities to identify needs, particularly the needs of disadvantaged and socially excluded individuals, and to find solutions that address these needs.
Proposed aim of the new project – Linking Communities ‘To develop partnerships and facilitate projects that improve access to employment, education, health and leisure facilities, and that enhance other essential services in rural areas.
This will be achieved by working closely with local communities to identify needs, particularly the needs of disadvantaged and socially excluded individuals, and solutions that address these needs.’
Linking Communities has a unique role in the county, working closely with rural communities to develop a range of transport and access projects. The need for improved access to vital services in rural areas continues to dominate community surveys and the expertise of the transport and access adviser has proved invaluable in guiding communities through successful project applications.
2) Project Work of Linking Communities There has been a strong emphasis over the years on delivering projects, here are some details of the work Linking Communities is involved in.
Zbikes – Wheels to Work A very specific, ground level project is the Zbikes scheme which is part of the national Wheels to Work Scheme.
Without a vehicle of their own, some people, are unable to get to a job or training, and without a job or the skills to get a job, they cannot afford the means to get around….resulting in a vicious cycle in which there is often no way out.
No Vehicle - No training/No job – No skills/No money – No vehicle – No training/No job etc
Zbikes provides a short-term solution to break this cycle by giving people the opportunity to access transport of their own by means of loaning them the use of a moped at a very low cost.
A zbikes partnership (which includes ourselves, UDC, Rayner and Post 16) has now been in place since the projects inception and was able to secure start up funding through the Countryside Agency, Uttlesford District Council and in kind support from Essex County Council.
To date a great deal of young people have benefited from the scheme and at present there are 12 bikes in use in and around Uttlesford District.
The future of the scheme also looks positive as the zbikes partnership has recently secured on-going funding through the Post 16 Transport Partnership and hopes to develop it highly recommended training programme and take the scheme across the county.
Danbury Community Bus. This is a community-led response to problems faced by residents of Danbury and the surrounding villages in accessing health care and shopping.
Launched in 2001, with funding from Essex County Council and the Countryside Agency, the service is simply a group of volunteer drivers who use Community Transport vehicles to transport and escort eligible residents making essential journeys. A small charge covers the running costs of the vehicle plus a proportion of the administration costs.
It currently caters for over 240 trips per month, covering a wide variety of access needs such a doctors appointments, clinics, pensions clubs and escorted shopping trips. With the help of Linking Communities the scheme has kept overheads to a minimum and developed an extremely effective local fundraising strategy.
Dengie Consultation. Before solutions can be designed, a need must be identified and over the years we have built a reputation as being widely recognised for our ability to undertake rural transport and access surveys.
Working with community leaders, community groups and parish councils we have been able to provide ground level support, advice, guidance and facilitation skills to a number of small transport and access needs surveys.
More often that not the results are not surprising, however the information gathered is vital when applying for funding support or backing up arguments for saving rural services.
In addition to working at a very local level, our expertise has, in the past, been called into action for Essex County Council. As part a large scale investigation into transport on the Dengie Peninsular we facilitated a number a transport consultations across the area. The results of which have been used by the council in refining the priorities of rural transport on the peninsular
3) Newsletter Click here to read the latest edition of the link, Linking Communities newsletter.
4) Fast-track Fund The Linking Communities Rural Transport and Access Fast-track Fund (FTF) has proved easily accessible and greatly beneficial to many voluntary and community groups throughout rural Essex. The Fund is available to non-profit making organisations to finance small-scale (up to £1,500) improvements to transport services throughout rural Essex.
The following list is an example of the priority funding and is not exhaustive:
Up to £3,000 is available to any organisation developing a project that demonstrates wider community benefits. The fund has been highly successful and to date has awarded funding to over 50 projects across Essex, which include:
Share the success of your project with your community! Email us on transport@essexrcc.org.uk
For more information please contact Kris Radley, the RCCE Rural Transport and Access Adviser, on 0844 4773938 (calls charged at local rate). Alternatively, you can access the application form and guidelines here At this point could we provide a link to that page and the application form and guidelines (copies attached).
5) Rural Transport and Access Network
One of the key successes of the ERTP was the formation of the Rural Transport Partnership. It was established with the intention of alleviating social exclusion throughout rural Essex by providing a forum to support rural transport initiatives. As a result and to acknowledge the success of the Essex Rural Transport Partnership we have created the ‘Rural Transport and Access Network’.
The new network aims build on the good work of the ERTP and to bring together statutory, community and voluntary sector groups who have an interest in rural transport and access to services.
Members of the Network will be invited to attend bi-annual events in which access issues faced by the rural communities of Essex will be key. The events will offer an opportunity for private, public, voluntary and community groups to discuss rural transport & access issues, to share information on good practise and provide a chance for those with an interest to meet and network.
For more information please contact Kris Radley at the RCCE.
6) Useful Information Information on rural transport, information sources and supporting organisations.
Essex County Council
Traveline tel: 0870 6082608
Rural Action East http://www.ruralactioneast.org.uk/
Sustrans
The Rural Health Forum
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