WRVS in the Scottish Parliament

WRVS has succeeded in drawing the Scottish Parliament’s attention to the issue of community transport on the back of our ‘Give us a Lift’ campaign and a WRVS briefing sent to all Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) in conjunction with Age Scotland and the Community Transport Association.

The debate on 10 December focused on extending the national concessionary travel scheme (free bus passes) to disabled people but Liberal Democrat Spokesperson on Local Government and Transport, Alison McInnes, highlighted WRVS’s hope that community transport services for older people may come to be included in the scheme as well.

This led to the approval of a motion that, amongst other things, called for “the Scottish Government to consider extending eligibility for the national concessionary travel scheme to include older and disabled people using community transport in rural areas.”

Although WRVS was arguing for an extension to services in all areas, not just rural, and while the Scottish Government is not bound to act on the motion it is a further and very important encouragement to them to look at the issue again. Here’s hoping!

Give us a Lift! - Third Sector's Digital Campaign of the Week

This week the Give Us a Lift site is featured by Third Sector as their Digital Campaign of the Week.  Anyone who watches Harry Hill's TV Burp will be tempted to sing that last bit (and the rest of you will just have to watch the programme to satisfy your curiosity).
Visit Third Sector's site to see what they have to say about the campaign and add your comments.

Take a look at http://www.giveusalift.org.uk/ to see what the campaign's all about.  Find out how WRVS volunteers provide transport for older people across Great Britain and how you could help in your local community.