Community transport

Community transport gives you access to a bus or car service if you can't access public transport. They are locally run and managed transport schemes for specific groups or communities.

Parishes, charities and community groups can set up a community transport scheme to give those who cannot easily access other public transport access to a bus or car service.

This might be a local village bus to transport villagers to the nearest town for shopping or a volunteer car service to take people to medical appointments.

We have no statutory obligation to provide community transport schemes, but support and encourage communities to run their own services where there is a need for transport. We can also offer advice, signposting and networking and award community transport grants to help establish, improve or extend a scheme.

Services for all areas

Kent Karrier is a dial-a-ride service. It will take you from your home to set locations, such as the nearest town centre or supermarket.

Patient transport is a service provided by G4S on behalf of the NHS Integrated Care Board for Kent and Medway.

They can help if your medical or physical condition means you cannot use public transport, get a lift, or drive yourself to, and from, your NHS appointment.

You can book patient transport by calling 0800 096 0211.

Services by district

Availability of other community transport services depends on the area you live in:

AgeUK Ashford

Visit the AgeUK Ashford site

Ashford Volunteer Centre

The Ashford Volunteer Centre operates a transport service utilising volunteer drivers. Along with an annual membership, users are also asked to pay a mileage and admin cost.

Wealden Wheels

Wealden Wheels are a not for profit community transport company providing flexible and affordable transport to groups and organisations in rural villages around Ashford.

They are based in Pluckley and operate a small fleet of minibuses. For an annual membership fee, local groups, clubs, schools, other organisations and families can hire the minibuses, either on a self-drive basis or with one of the volunteer drivers.

Canterbury Volunteer Centre

The Canterbury Volunteer Centre operates a transport service utilising volunteer drivers. Along with an annual membership, users are also asked to pay a mileage and admin cost.

Whitstable Volunteer Car Service - Red Zebra

Volunteer Car Service serves the Whitstable area, mainly within the CT5 postcode. It costs £10 to join (or £15 for couples) and is charged at 45p per mile from the volunteer driver’s house (£6.50 minimum charge).  All drivers are DBS checked.

SMILES Volunteer Transport Service

The SMILES Volunteer Transport Service is available to anyone in the Dartford district.  Volunteer drivers use their own cars to take members to medical appointments (for example clinic, hospital, doctor or optician appointments) in the area. They will also drive members to see family and friends if possible. Membership is £18 per year. For more information, please call 01322 29 46 00.

Kent Coast Volunteering

The Kent Coast Volunteering (KCV) service is available for both medical and social trips. The service can help with shopping, to taking you to your appointment even if it is not local, for example to a London hospital, or to visit relatives.  There is a membership fee, a mileage cost of 50p and a small admin charge for each trip.

If you wish to book, please contact 01304 38 05 13. KCV asks that you provide 3 working days' notice for a new journey request, but they will always try to accommodate emergencies.

AgeUK Hythe and Lyminge

Visit the Age UK Hythe and Lyminge site

Kent Coast Volunteering

The Kent Coast Volunteering (KCV) service is available for both medical and social trips. The service can help with shopping, to taking you to your appointment even if it is not local, for example to a London hospital, or to visit relatives.  There is a membership fee, a mileage cost of 50p and a small admin charge for each trip.

If you wish to book, please contact 01304 38 05 13. KCV asks that you provide 3 working days' notice for a new journey request, but they will always try to accommodate emergencies.

SMILES Volunteer Transport Service

The SMILES Volunteer Transport Service is available to anyone in the Gravesham district.  Volunteer drivers use their own cars to take members to medical appointments (for example clinic, hospital, doctor or optician appointments) in the area. They will also drive members to see family and friends if possible. Membership is £18 per year. For more information, please call 01322 29 46 00.

Involve Kent

Involve’s community transport service is a community based driving scheme for people living in the Maidstone and Malling area that helps people who cannot manage on public transport because of age, frailty, illness, disability or injury.

Involve can provide trips to places like hospitals, foot clinics, day centres, shops, visits to friends or anywhere else you’d like to go. Drivers are volunteers and use their own cars. They also provide assistance with shopping trips and outings (seaside, Christmas markets etc.) and have a minibus which is available for hire to other community groups.

AgeUK Sevenoaks and Tonbridge

Visit the AgeUK Sevenoaks and Tonbridge site.

Edenbridge Voluntary Transport Service

Edenbridge Voluntary Transport Service is a volunteer car service based near the day centre at Edenbridge hospital.  Volunteer drivers use their own cars to take people in the area unable to use public transport, to and from medical appointments at hospitals, clinics, surgeries, opticians, dentists etc.  All drivers are DBS checked. For more information please telephone 01732 865353.

IMAGO Dial-2-Drive

Dial 2 Drive (D2D) is a community transport scheme for people unable to access public transport due to older age, illness or disability living in Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding areas.

Volunteer drivers use their own cars to take clients to medical and social appointments. This includes appointments at local surgeries, hospitals, day centres, hairdressers, opticians, lunch clubs and shopping.

Sevenoaks Volunteer Transport Group

The Sevenoaks Volunteer Transport Group provides a coordinated low-cost local transport scheme catering for elderly, infirm and disabled residents needing assistance with transport to attend medical appointments at clinics and hospitals and activities such as clubs for the disabled. Volunteers provide the transport, using their private cars.

SMILES Volunteer Transport Service

The SMILES Volunteer Transport Service is available to anyone in the Sevenoaks district.  Volunteer drivers use their own cars to take members to medical appointments (for example clinic, hospital, doctor or optician appointments) in the area. They will also drive members to see family and friends if possible. Membership is £18 per year. For more information, please call 01322 29 46 00.

Stockbury community bus

The Stockbury community bus runs 3 times each week to local shopping centres.

Swale CVS (Volunteer Transport Scheme)

The Swale Volunteer Centre Volunteer Transport Scheme is available to all local residents who have difficulty using public transport due to accessibility, times, mobility and costs.

The Volunteer Transport Scheme will help you to attend essential appointments such as doctor, dentist and hospital.

Kent Coast Volunteering

The Kent Coast Volunteering (KCV)service is available for both medical and social trips. The service can help with shopping, to taking you to your appointment even if it is not local, for example to a London hospital, or to visit relatives.  There is a membership fee, a mileage cost of 45p and a small admin charge for each trip.

If you wish to book, please contact 01304 38 05 13. KCV asks that you provide 3 to 4 days notice for a new journey request, but they will always try to accommodate emergencies.

Thanet Community Transport Association

Visit the Thanet Community Transport Association website.

AgeUK Sevenoaks and Tonbridge

Visit the AgeUK Sevenoaks and Tonbridge site.

Community Car Service

The Community Car Service provides safe transport for people who cannot use public transport. This can be for a variety of reasons including mobility issues, mental disorders, dementia or infirmness due to old age. We will take the customer to wherever they need to travel to. Medical appointments to doctors, dentists and hospitals including all London hospitals. Social inclusion, day centres, lunch clubs, hairdressers, visiting loved ones that are away from home and shopping.

Compaid

Compaid provide an ‘Out and about’ transport service for people who don’t have their own car or who struggle to use public transport and live in Tonbridge and Malling or Tunbridge Wells. Passengers can travel within their district for a set fee.

IMAGO Dial-2-Drive

Dial 2 Drive (D2D) is a community transport scheme for people unable to access public transport due to older age, illness or disability living in Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding areas.

Volunteer drivers use their own cars to take clients to medical and social appointments. This includes appointments at local surgeries, hospitals, day centres, hairdressers, opticians, lunch clubs and shopping.

Involve Kent

Involve’s community transport service is a community-based driving scheme for people living in the Maidstone and Malling area that helps people who cannot manage on public transport because of age, frailty, illness, disability or injury.

Involve can provide trips to places like hospitals, foot clinics, day centres, shops, visits to friends or anywhere else you’d like to go. Drivers are volunteers and use their own cars. They provide assistance with shopping trips and outings, such as seaside trips and Christmas markets, and have a minibus which is available for hire to other community groups.

Community Car Service

The Community Car Service provides safe transport for people who cannot use public transport. This can be for a variety of reasons including mobility issues, mental disorders, dementia or infirmness due to old age. The Community Care Service will take passengers to wherever they need to travel to, such as:

  • medical appointments including visits to the doctors, dentists or hospital (including all London hospitals)
  • social activities including day centres, lunch clubs, hairdressers, visiting loved ones that are away from home
  • shopping.

Compaid

Compaid provide an ‘Out and about’ transport service for people who don’t have their own car or who struggle to use public transport and live in Tonbridge and Malling or Tunbridge Wells. Passengers can travel within their district for a set fee.

IMAGO Dial-2-Drive

Dial 2 Drive (D2D) is a community transport scheme for people unable to access public transport due to older age, illness or disability living in Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding areas.

Volunteer drivers use their own cars to take clients to medical and social appointments. This includes appointments at local surgeries, hospitals, day centres, hairdressers, opticians, lunch clubs and shopping.