Workers at the First Bus depot in Bramley welcomed Bramley Elderly Action (BEA) members to mark the tenth anniversary of a partnership supporting the charity.
Leeds West and Pudsey MP Rachel Reeves joined members of the Friday afternoon men’s group for celebrations at the Henconner Lane depot.
Over the past decade, First Bus has supplied £70,000 of fuel and maintenance for BEA’s minibus fleet, which is essential for helping users to enjoy its regular clubs and special trips across West Yorkshire.
It is estimated that the partnership has enabled more than 3,250 journeys at low-cost and covered 50,000 miles, ensuring greater participation by users and allowing BEA to concentrate more of its finances on supporting events and expand its activities.
Lee Ingham, Chief Executive Officer of the charity, said: “We are now able to offer transport for two men’s groups at different venues on the same day.
“This has been vital for targeting men, who are harder to engage and reach, and allowed us to take the groups out for trips and pub lunches.
“Also, when we arrange our bigger seaside trips to Bridlington and Whitby, we are able to offer home pick-ups for those members that need our support in getting them to the coach. Again, this is down to the support from First Bus.”
Ms Reeves also met First Bus UK Managing Director, Janette Bell, engineering and driver apprentices.
The Chancellor said: “It has been wonderful to see a business like First Bus taking an active role in supporting the community and reducing loneliness and social isolation amongst older people in my constituency.
“I really enjoyed meeting some of the older people who have benefitted from this initiative and hearing their stories.”
Bramley Elderly Action has been able to branch out, using its minibuses to transport people to other community lunch clubs that it doesn’t run which opens up a bigger community network for members.
“The support of First Bus has enabled us to continue providing transport for our members which is vital to our older users who have problems with mobility, confidence and long term health conditions,” added Mr Ingham.
“Volunteer drivers and ‘bus buddies’ have enabled the charity to focus on members who have been struggling to get out and to offer them a lifeline.
“Our organisation really appreciates the support and generosity that First Bus has provided to our services over the last 10 years which has helped build and support our older community and reduce social isolation.”
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