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Community based transport services

Community transport services

This list highlights some of the community transport services operating within the Aberdeenshire area. Please note that this list is not comprehensive - there are other projects that provide voluntary transport on an informal basis.

Alford Car Transport Service (ACTS)

The aim of the charity is to enable people to attend health and similar related appointments, where public or family transport is unavailable or inappropriate.

This service is not restricted to older people. We are pleased to help anyone who has a genuine need and has no one to help with transport. For those with special needs who wish to take an escort or wheelchair/walking aid with them, we do ask for more notice. We can also transport children but ask that a parent/guardian accompanies the child.

Passengers are not charged for the service but may wish to contribute to the charity. Envelopes addressed to ACTS are available for this purpose.

The journeys we cover include:

  • hospital admissions and discharges
  • hospital appointments
  • hospital visits
  • GP surgery
  • dentist, optician and chiropodist
  • nursing home visits
  • carer and other group meetings
  • compassionate needs

How to book

To make a booking phone 07544 864240, preferably with at least 48 hours notice, leaving a voicemail with details (name, address, appointment date, time and location).

If you need to cancel or postpone a journey, please contact us immediately.

Volunteer drivers

All our drivers are volunteers who give their time freely to help those in need, especially in our rural area where transport is non-existent or unsuitable.

Drivers must have a full driving licence and full comprehensive insurance cover. They are provided with an ID card.

If you would like to volunteer as a driver, phone 07544 864240 and leave a voicemail. We will phone you back. 

Silver Circle Hospital Voluntary Driver Scheme 

Email fiona.gray@silvercircle.org.uk or call 07707 624657 if you need transport for appointments to:

  • Hospital
  • Dentist
  • Optician
  • Chiropodist
  • Physiotherapist
  • Local Clinics

A contribution is expected towards expenses:

  • £12 for journeys to Aberdeen
  • £10 for journeys to Huntly and Inverurie
  • £8 for journeys to Alford and Aboyne
  • £3 to local clinics in Strathdon

Co-ordinated by The Silver Circle Support Group. Funded by a grant from Aberdeenshire Council plus contributions and local fundraising.

Cromar Volunteer Patient Transport Group 

Cromar Volunteer Patient Transport Group is a volunteer transport service for non-urgent medical, health or similar appointments. It operates for people in Cromar who do not qualify for the Scottish Ambulance Patient Transport service and who have no access to other means of transport. It can help patients get to a variety of different appointments including, but not limited to: hospital admissions, hospital clinics, dental appointments, opticians, chiropodists, GP surgeries and Physiotherapy sessions.

You can book transport by phoning the co-ordinator on 07790585977. Generally at least 48 hours notice is required.

Aberdeenshire Community Transport Forum

The Aberdeenshire Community Transport Forum (ACTF) was established in June 2001 to improve communication between the Council and local community transport providers. It aims to provide a forum for the exchange of best practice, and to allow debate on issues of mutual interest. Forum meetings are attended by various community transport operators, representatives of the Council, the local Community Transport Association Development Worker, and other interested parties.

If you are currently involved in voluntary or community transport provision or are considering setting-up a local project and you are interested in attending Forum meetings, contact Passenger Transport Unit by emailing public.transport@aberdeenshire.gov.uk or phoning 01467 538103.

For advice on setting-up and developing a local community transport scheme please contact the Community Transport Association on 0345 130 6195 or email advice@ctauk.org.

Community transport training

The following community transport training is available:

  • Local Training for Minibus Drivers (training in MiDAS, minibus driver awareness scheme)
  • Local Training for Passenger Assistants (training in PATS, the CTA-sponsored Passenger Assistant Training Scheme)
  • Fire and Evacuation from a Minibus
  • Community Transport Association (CTA) Training

Local groups offering community transport training:

  • Banffshire Partnership, Boyndie, telephone 01261 843598  (training for minibus drivers and passenger Assistants)
  • Mearns Community Transport, Laurencekirk, telephone 01561 377000
  • NETT (North East Transport Training), phone 07818 448664  can provide MiDAS, PATS, Minibus Emergency evacuation training, CPC, D1, Road safety presentations and Community Transport consultancy.

To find out more please call 01467 539084.