Community transport grant

We encourage and support communities to set up and maintain community transport schemes tailored to their local needs.

Community-led groups or organisations can apply for a community transport grant to either set up a new scheme or support an existing one.

The schemes we have run for the last two years have been supported by funding from the Department for Transport. As part of our Bus Service Improvement Plan Initiative programme (BSIP), we awarded £560,000 last year and £400,000  the year before, to a total of 19 community transport schemes in Kent.

Find out more about our community transport schemes.

This year, as part of our BSIP delivery plan for 2025 to 2026 we are again running a community transport scheme to enable community-led groups or organisations to establish new or develop existing schemes.

Types of funding

All the funding available for a grant this year is capital funding. There are strict rules about the sorts of things for which capital funding can be used. As a guide, capital funding is typically one off in nature and will typically be for the purchase of “assets” such as vehicles or other equipment. You cannot use capital funding for staffing costs or to pay transport providers to run services as this is revenue expenditure.

What the grant can be used for

The community transport funding can help you to:

• buy a vehicle or other equipment to support a community transport scheme (for example, computer equipment, ticket machines, parking facilities)
• cover the initial costs involved in setting up a community transport scheme (for example, staffing costs for the first year - providing the plan shows how the costs will be covered in subsequent years). Only a small proportion of our funding is available for this purpose.

All associated publicity, including vehicle liveries, must include The Department for Transport and Kent County Council logos.

Application guidance

Who can apply

To set up a new scheme or support an existing one community groups, parishes or town councils can apply.

We will also consider applications from organisations or transport providers who are working in partnership with community groups, parishes, town councils or transport providers, as long as the application is community-led.

Assessment of application

We will assess your application in two stages.

Firstly, you will need to demonstrate that your application meets our essential criteria. If any of the essential criteria are not met, your application will not be successful.

Essential criteria

The scheme must:

• address an identified transport need within the local community
• not compete with or undermine an existing transport service
• be fully accessible for all users, including disabled passengers.

The application must be for capital funding only, and include:

• include a mobilisation plan which details how the scheme or enhancement can be delivered in 2026
• include some form of match contribution - such as a guarantee of financial or other contribution (for example securing volunteer drivers or equipment)
• include a plan that explains how the scheme will be sustainable both immediately after the financial support is provided and in the long term.

Other considerations

If your application meets the criteria, we will consider:

• the amount and type of funding you've requested (revenue or capital), taking into account the budget we have available
• what transport is already available locally and how the scheme may help to address any gaps
• what benefit the scheme will bring to the community
• who will benefit from the scheme
• whether the scheme is new or whether it improves an existing scheme
• whether the plan demonstrates how the scheme can be delivered after the first year (when the grant funding has been spent)
• how the scheme aligns with our strategic priorities
• how the scheme addresses environmental considerations.

Apply

Apply now

You need to apply by 30 September.

If you have any questions about your application, email jean.molloy@kent.gov.uk.

After you apply

Your bid will be assessed against how well it meets the criteria and our strategic priorities, and how effectively it addresses the transport need in your area.

We will let you know if your bid has been successful by the end of November 2025 and payment of your grant award will be made by the end of January 2026.