Council congratulates award winning community car scheme

picture of Award

The Highland Council are delighted to congratulate Gairloch Community Car Scheme (GCCS) on being presented with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Services.

GCCS receive community transport grant funding from The Highland Council’s Transport Co-Ordination Unit (TCU) for a community car scheme which works to meet the transport needs of the local community, ensuring a connectivity that might otherwise not exist in an area where public transport is limited and focused on longer-distance journeys to hubs like Inverness, Dingwall and Ullapool.

The scheme is particularly beneficial for those who experience transport poverty or other barriers which can, particularly in sparsely populated area, lead to severe isolation and deprivation.

The group were presented with the Award on Wednesday (18 November).

On behalf of the Council’s Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochash Committee, Chair Cllr Ian Cockburn said: “We are delighted that the hard work of everyone involved has been recognised by receiving such a prestigious award. GCCS’s work has been vital to ensuring that the community remains connected.

“They have also worked with our council transport staff to implement an innovative project which delivers school transport in the Poolewe area at a lower cost than a traditional contract model. The multi-purpose vehicle in use for this project is available for utilisation outside of school journey times to address a variety of local community transport needs and other areas of the Highlands are looking to set up a similar partnership approach.

“It shows just what can be achieved by a small but very active group of volunteers so once again, well done to everyone.”

 

 

 

 

 

20 Nov 2020