Getting out, meeting others and staying active is good for health and mental wellbeing. However, many people living with vision impairment find getting out and about difficult especially if you have moved to a new area, have recently experienced a health set back, or have limited support from friends and family.
In a 2023 study completed by RNIB better access to transport was identified as one of the most important factors to improve quality of life for people living with vision impairment in the UK.
One common tool that visitors to the Vision Norfolk community hubs use to get around is community transport services. These are locally focused services that provide door-to-door transport for area residents who aren’t able to drive and may have difficulty using public transport.
Community Transport in Norfolk
Norwich - Norwich Door-to-Door
Norwich Door-to-Door is a community transport option that serves people in Norwich and the surrounding suburbs who are living and travelling within the Southern Bypass and the Broadland Northway.
Their minibuses are fully equipped with tail-lifts, steps, and secure anchor points for wheelchairs and scooters.
Trips can be for essentials such as shopping and appointments but you can also use the service for other types of outings including travel to and from social clubs and activities.
Currently the cost is £6-£10 one way depending on how far you are going, as well as a one off annual £25 membership fee. Contact them directly for more information.
Website: https://norwichdoortodoor.org.uk/
Phone: 01603 776735
Email: [email protected]
Great Yarmouth – Centre 81
Centre 81 provides a door-to-door community transport services available for anyone in the Borough of Great Yarmouth that may struggle with using buses and taxis.
Their fleet of fully accessible minibuses have secure anchor points for wheelchairs, tail-lifts for access and friendly, helpful drivers to get you safely on and off the bus.
It can be used for practically anything – from getting to medical appointments and the bank to going shopping, visiting friends or travelling to a volunteering role or paid employment.
To access the service you will need to become a member. This costs £25 a year. Fare will be calculated using the mileage from your pick-up point to your destination. Journeys costs are much less than a taxi and a bit more than public transport fares.
The core service is available from 10:30am to 13:30pm from Monday to Friday. Transport is available before and after the core hours on an individually arranged basis, subject to availability.
Website: centre81.co.uk/community-transport-services/
Phone: 01493 332253
Email: [email protected]
West Norfolk - West Norfolk Community Transportation
West Norfolk Community Transport (WNCT) was set up to provide a range of safe, affordable door-to-door transport services for people who are unable to access public transport due to location, age or mobility issues.
All their vehicles are wheelchair accessible and their friendly, helpful drivers will assist you in and out of the vehicle.
Their Rural Dial-A-Bus service runs regular scheduled trips from a variety of villages in West Norfolk (in the surrounding areas of Kings Lynn, Downham Market, Ely, Fakenham and Swaffham). It’s weekly and aimed at allow people to do a bit of shopping in town and return home safely. Services run Monday to Friday excluding Bank Holidays. Fares and pick up times vary.
The King’s Lynn Dial-a-Bus offers a door-to-door service within the King’s Lynn PE30 postcode to access medical, shopping and other appointments. They offer travel slots every 30 minutes between 8.30am and 4.30pm, Monday to Friday excluding Bank Holidays. Fares vary depending on the purpose of your travel and the number of people travelling from the same location.
The Community Car Scheme provides transport for shorter or longer distances outside of King’s Lynn mainly for medical appointments. The scheme is a chargeable service which is offered by their friendly volunteer drivers using their own vehicles. They charge 45p per mile from the driver’s home to the client’s pick up point then 50p per mile to the destination. There is also a small additional admin fee per trip.
Website: https://www.wnct.co.uk/
Phone: 01553 776971
Email: [email protected]
North Norfolk - North Norfolk Community Transport
North Norfolk Community Transport provides accessible transportation and minibus routes across North Norfolk.
With the Access Car Service, using their wheelchair accessible car, they can provide transport for people in North Norfolk who need to get to medical appointments and have no other means of travel. They can also provide transport to other destinations, for those that have significant mobility issues and need to travel in an accessible vehicle. The service is bookable Monday to Friday (subject to availability) and is charged at 60p per mile, from their depot in North Walsham and back again.
With the Dial a Ride Service their friendly driver will pick you up from your home for a trip to a set destination. You will have between 1.5 and 2.5 hours at the destination, depending on the trip. This is ideal for shopping trips or meeting up with friends. Cost vary between £6-£8.50 round trip depending on the route.
Membership is currently a minimum donation of £10 per year.
Website: https://www.nnct.org.uk/
Phone: 01692 500840
Email: [email protected]
South Norfolk - Borderhoppa
Borderhoppa is a community transport charity providing affordable and accessible minibus services across South Norfolk and North Suffolk. Available to anyone who finds public transport difficult or has limited transport options.
Whether you’re travelling to the shops, visiting friends and family, attending an appointment or simply enjoying a day out, they’re here to help you travel safely and comfortably.
To use Borderhoppa’s Dial-a-Ride service you’ll need to become a member. Membership costs £20 per year. Round trip fares range from £6.50 to £8.50 depending on the distance you are travelling.
Website: http://borderhoppa.org/
Phone: 01379 854800
Email: [email protected]
Waveney - BACT
BACT community transport works in partnership with local councils and initiatives to help tackle loneliness and isolation by providing transport to people living in parts of the Waveney Valley.
Dial-a-Ride provides a minibus door-to-door service. The services run between 8am and 5pm and costs between £7 and £9 per trip depending on the distance travelled.
BACT also has three wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAV). They provide door-to-door rural transport for those who are confined to a wheelchair or cannot transfer from wheelchair to car. The WAVs seat up to three passengers plus a wheelchair, or five passengers without a wheelchair. Wheelchairs are safely strapped in by their trained drivers and passenger assistants using a four-point harness system. Fares for WAV journeys are 60p per mile.
The Community Car Service operates seven days a week and is provided by volunteer drivers using their own vehicles. Anyone may ask to use the service to make journeys for which neither a family car, nor public transport, is available. The cost is based on the distance travelled. The distance is from between the driver’s home to the place where you are picked up and on to your destination. A single journey in a volunteer car costs a minimum of £3.50 for the first four miles and then 45p per mile for every additional mile.
Buzzabout is a bookable, wheelchair accessible bus service operating in the villages north of Lowestoft on Tuesday and Thursday between 08:30am and 4:30pm. You can travel to Lowestoft, Blundeston, Somerleyton train station, Lound, Gunton, St Olaves and more. Round Trips cost between £6 and £7 depending on where you are travelling. Concessionary bus passes are now accepted after 9.30 am.
The annual membership fee is £22 a year.
Website: bactcommunitytransport.org.uk
Phone: 01986 896896
Email: [email protected]
Other Options
Other options that our clients choose to get to our community hubs include local buses, taxis and finding walking routes that work for them. If you live in Norfolk and are registered as sight impaired or severely sight impaired you are eligible for a disabled travel pass which allows for free travel on buses within the county. A disabled bus pass is not restricted to off-peak times, so will give you free travel on all local bus services at any time of day. Your can also apply for a companion pass, which entitles one other person to travel with you for free.
If you would like to talk about your travel options and travel concerns, please feel free to contact Vision Norfolk on 01603 573000. We can talk through your personal situation, help you apply for a disabled travel pass, provide more information, make recommendations and help you contact other services if required.
