Community transport groups across the Highlands have been awarded grants totalling £498,000 to support local transport services in 2027/28.
The grants will support 34 community transport providers, including seven new recipients, whose services play a vital role in helping people access services, connecting communities and addressing local transport challenges.
Chair of the Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee, Cllr Ken Gowans said: “The role of community transport has expanded significantly in recent years and is now an integral part of a sustainable and resilient transport network across the Highlands. It is important we continue to support, develop and integrate community transport as part of the wider transport network, enabling providers to respond to local needs and realise their full potential in supporting local communities.”
At today’s meeting of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee, members agreed to award grants for 2027/28 to the following groups:
- Applecross Community Council - £7500
- Badenoch & Strathspey Community ConnXions - £35,000
- Beauly and District Care Project - £2,000
- Boleskine Community Care - £4,500
- Caithness Voluntary Group - £43,500
- Care Lochaber - £42,000
- Communities in Motion CT - £12,500
- Community Support and Information, Ross-shire - £5000
- Connect Assynt LTD - £9000
- Creich Crock & Kincardine District Day Care Association - £7500
- Dornoch Area Community Interest Company - £7500
- FarrGoes - £27,500
- Fox & Friends - £10,000
- Gairloch Community Car Scheme - £34,500
- Garve & District Development Company - £17,500
- Glenelg & Arnisdale Bus User Group – £9,500
- Go Golspie Development Trust - £14,500
- GRO - £5000
- Helmsdale Community Transport – £2500
- Highlife Highland (Sunart Centre) - £8500
- Lairg Community Association - £10,000
- Lochaber Action on Disability - £12,000
- Nairn Community Transport - £6500
- Partnerships for Wellbeing - £23,500
- Shopmobility Highland - £17,500
- Sleat Community Trust - £7000
- South Lochaber Community Company - £2500
- South West Ross Community Car Scheme - £43,500
- Stratherrick and Foyers Community Trust - £2500
- Strathnairn Community Access & Transport Association - £7500
- Transport for Tongue Limited - £37,000
- Tykes - £5000
- Urram - £7000
- Wheels in Nairnshire - £11,000
Community transport has traditionally been associated with volunteer car schemes, community minibus operations and accessible transport services.
However, many operators now deliver school transport and other contracted services in local communities, alongside innovative approaches to transport delivery, such as the partnership between The Highland Council, NHS Highland, and community transport providers supporting renal patient transport to Raigmore Hospital, Inverness.
Demand for funding remains strong, highlighting the vital role community transport plays across the Highlands.
Insight from the grant application process, including the level of demand, variations in service provision between areas, and continuing gaps in coverage, will help inform the development of a future Community Transport Strategy for the Highlands.