A CHARITY providing transport for people living in rural areas is appealing to members of the community to help them win funding for a new minibus.

Norton-based Ryedale Community Transport provides affordable transport for people living in rural areas.

It also provides specialist and disability transport, operating a number of minibuses designed for adults and children with learning or physical disabilities.

The charity now needs the help of the local community to help secure an Aviva Community Fund Grant of £10,000 to buy a new minibus to help keep the wheels turning for residents who use the service to attend appointments at the doctors’ surgery, hospital in York and for social gatherings.

Ryedale Community Transport manager Steve Mellalieu said that the minibus would enable more isolated residents to get around more easily and make it to important appointments. He said: “This service is really important for the community because people have very limited choice in how they get around at the moment, so we really need this.”

The funding would enable the charity to replace one of its oldest disabled-friendly minibuses, which is no longer economical to run, for a new Ford Transit LWB minibus with 15 removable seats and a rear tail-lift.

Steve said the minibus costs about £40,000 and if the group is successful with the grant then members will need a further £560 to be able to buy the bus, which he said they would get from selling the older buses, or from grants.

The charity will be up against other projects competing for a variety of grants, from £1,000 to £25,000, and the projects with the most votes will then be selected by a panel of judges.

To vote for Ryedale Community Transport to receive the funding, visit
community-fund.aviva.co.uk/voting/project/view/1624

Online voting closes on Saturday, May 30.