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Community Wheels

How to book a seat or volunteer for the Community Wheels minibus service. The service currently runs in Appleby-in-Westmorland on Fridays.

Government funding has helped to buy six accessible minibuses that provide regular transport, driven by volunteer drivers in areas where scheduled bus services are not available.   

The service currently provides a minibus to Appleby on Fridays, driven by local volunteers for residents of:

  • Sandford
  • Warcop
  • Ormside
  • Asby
  • Dufton
  • Knock
  • Silverband
  • Milburn
  • Barrowmoor
  • Scattergate Cul-de-sac

The service is currently for Appleby only, please contact us if you wish to discuss your community's transport needs or if you're interested in development or volunteering opportunities.

How to access Community Wheels

To use the service, you will need to become a member of Community Wheels, which is included in conjunction with the Rural Wheels scheme.

There’s no membership fee, just a fare of 25p per mile per single or return trip. We take payment by credit or debit card over the phone when your journey is confirmed.   

You do not have to book each week, as you can make a regular booking for a seat on the bus up to a month in advance.

You cannot use a concessionary NoWcard for Community Wheels journeys.

Booking a seat

To book a seat, contact us by midday the day before you wish to travel:

Telephone: 01539 713350
Email: rural.wheels@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk

Routes and times

Based on current community need, approximate times for these routes are:

Route 1: Sandford, Warcop, Ormside and Asby

Departure to Appleby: Fridays, starting at Sandford at 9:05am. Picking up at Warcop, Ormside and Asby

Arrival at Appleby: approximately 9.50am

Return from Appleby: 12pm and 2.25pm

Route 2: Dufton, Knock, Silverband and Milburn

Depart from Appleby: Fridays, starting at Dufton at 10.10am. Picking up at Knock, Silverband and Milburn

Arrival at Appleby: 10:55am

Return from Appleby: at 1pm

Route 3: Barrowmoor and Scattergate Cul-de-sac

Depart from Appleby:  Fridays, starting at Barrowmoor at 10:45am. Picking up at Scattergate Cul-de-sac

Arrival at Appleby: 10.55am

Return from Appleby: 1.40pm

Hiring a minibus

The minibuses are also available for hire to not-for-profit groups through Cumbria Community Transport. This helps to generate additional income and enhance the service viability. 

To hire a minibus, please visit Cumbria Community Transport or call 01768 721207.

Development and volunteering opportunities

If you would like to know more about Community Wheels and discuss how this could be a solution to some of your community’s transport needs, or you’re interested in volunteering as a minibus driver please contact the Sustainable Transport Team:

Telephone: 03332 406965 (option 5 - charged at local rate)
Mobile: 07788 396194

Local steering group 

We are working with a local steering group to deliver the Community Wheels service.

We will:

  • provide the minibus asset and retain ownership of the vehicle
  • work with the community through the steering group to develop the service that meets evidenced need
  • support the recruitment of volunteer drivers
  • ensure volunteer drivers are trained to MiDAS standard and have full vehicle familiarisation
  • ensure that the community minibuses are legal, roadworthy and in the correct location. The day to day aspects of this will be delivered by Cumbria Community Transport on our behalf
  • monitor usage, and provide information to the steering group regarding cost of provision and income generated

The Community will:

  • form a steering group and take ownership of the service
  • work with us to develop, support and promote the service
  • recruit a pool of volunteer drivers from their community to drive the minibus

Drivers will:

  • need to have a full driving licence
  • need Category D1 on their license if they passed their test after 1997 (funding available) 
  • have volunteer mileage expenses covered at 45p per mile

Passengers will:

  • need to be registered with the Rural Wheels service and should pre-book their seat on the transport. This is because of the Section 19 permit legislation under which community minibuses can operate and the need for users of the vehicle to be part of a "membership" scheme
  • passengers fares are paid to the Rural Wheels Planning Service using a credit/debit card at a rate of 25p per mile.
  • concessionary NoWcards cannot be used on "Community Wheels" services as they are not scheduled bus services