Pleas for elderly bus to keep running

Pleas are coming in from all over England to save a community minibus service that helps elderly residents in Bournemouth enjoy days out. The bus service helps mobility-restricted individuals in the Bournemouth area get out and about as it provides transport to clubs and trips out.

The selfless volunteer that runs the service is pleading for help to keep it going in fear that should it cease running, the many elderly residents who use the service may suffer as they will be unable to get out and about. While many of the West Howe residents that use the service rely on mobility aids and motorised stairlifts at home, the Bournemouth and West Howe Tours minibus service sees them gain a new lease of life as they are able to enjoy trips out despite their restricted-mobility.

Helping out

The minibus service has proved invaluable to families as well as elderly and disabled people in the West Howe area, but the volunteer that runs the service fears that he may not be able to keep it going on his own without help. He states in this article, “A lot of the money I’ve actually paid out of my own pocket” and “I’m not asking for a new minibus, it’s just help towards the cost of repairs that I need doing and helping me to pay for things like the MOT, insurance, tax and everything else”.

The service currently receives donations of around £120 a week from community organisations, which have so far helped keep the minibus going for the length of the service of 14 years, but this may not be enough any longer because the bus is in need of repair.

The service helps out a lot of people in the Bournemouth and West Howe area and it is hoped that the service can continue to run, enabling them to feel the same benefits of mobility aids and rise and recliner chairs from Handicare outside the home, helping to maintain a full and independent lifestyle.

Image Credit: Paul Wordingham (flickr.com)