TISBUS
TISBURY & DISTRICT COMMUNITY MINIBUS LTD
A SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY
EDITION 12: APRIL 2020
TISBUS MISSION STATEMENT
To provide a community led, affordable, door-to-door, wheel chair accessible community transport service for everyone in Tisbury and the surrounding area, on specific designated services, special outings and on private journeys.
BACKGROUND
OUR PURPOSE
TISBUS was founded in 2000 to create a community transport service for the people of Tisbury and the surrounding villages through a concerted effort that benefits social welfare and the community at large.
One of the key aims is to provide help with wheelchair accessible vehicles to the isolated and less mobile who may be unable to access public transport.
We continue to try to improve our services by listening to the needs of our users, both current and potential, and thereby to provide a responsive and flexible range of services in our region.
CRITICAL FACTORS
To succeed TISBUS needs:
- Committed, effective volunteer trustees and sufficient volunteer and paid drivers
- A range of reliable, safe and appropriate vehicles
- Adequate revenue and funding to enable TISBUS to operate as a commercially viable enterprise
- To effectively promote our services to both current and potential users and to keep the services under constant review
- Good communications with our members and the public at large.
KEY ISSUES
These are:
- Our area is lightly populated and widely spread (around 8,000 people in an area of 400 square miles) and has a predominately elderly population with associated mobility issues in which only limited PSV services operate
- Local PSV fares are expensive and therefore there are difficulties for the less well-off user
- Our fleet now compares well with similar organisations in the rest of Wiltshire and in neighbouring counties. Successful fund raising over the past 10 years and effective financial management have enabled us to provide a fleet of four vehicles, two of which are wheelchair accessible. The size of the fleet will be under constant review. We will consider retiring one bus and replacing it with a new one during the 2020/2021 financial year. The option of running three or four buses in the fleet will also be reconsidered, as will the basis of funding, either through purchase or lease.
- Given that buses age, we need to be aware of the need to replace minibuses at the end of their useful life cycle. This means a replacement about every three years.
- We must ensure our vehicles are used efficiently to provide the most effective service possible.
- Working closely with adjacent transport operators allows us all to maximise services efficiently for our isolated populations and to meet our charitable remit.
OUR MAIN OBJECTIVES
Short Term: 1 Year (2020/2021)
- Manage the re-start of TISBUS trips following the easing of movement restrictions imposed by the Coronavirus pandemic and to evaluate and adapt operating practices to ensure the safety of members and volunteers with respect to possible residual virus transmission
- Manage existing money for the next replacement 16-seat bus
- Continue to maximise the use of the existing fleet by keeping existing commitments under review and seeking new work
- Maintain the availability of committed and trained staff; ideally volunteers
- Increase the number of drivers available to us
- Maintain positive communications with drivers and reinforce their participation
- Maintain user satisfaction and safety
- Improve the awareness of TISBUS in the area with renewed publicity
- Continue to work with LINK where possible
- Maintain our communications with our members
Medium Term: 2-4 Years (2021-2025)
- Continue to update and improve our service by listening to feedback for our customers
- Continue to seek and encourage volunteers to come forward as drivers and trustees
- Maximise group talents
- Initiate fund raising for a replacement vehicle in 2021/22
- Investigate the use of electric or other non-fossil-fuelled vehicles
IMPLEMENTATION
Short Term (by end 2021)
New 16 seat vehicle for 2020/21
- Confirm funding
- Discussion and decision on type and usage of new vehicle among trustees
- Choose bus
Funding
- Continue to ensure that we balance our books and use our money effectively
- Effective use of the Transport Sub Committee to monitor transport costs
- Seek to make more use of volunteer drivers and so minimise paid driver hours
Market and users
- Publicity plan
- Refine and publish The Tisbus Times on a regular basis
- Improve regular TISBUS news feed in local media
- Continued volunteer recruitment drive
- Always be receptive to possible expansion or variation of services
- Continue to monitor user feedback to enhance and improve our appeal to the community
- Co-operate and help where possible with the establishment of transport links with the Tisbury Campus and other local venues
- Improve the website and electronic communications wherever possible
- Keep members informed
- Reinforce public awareness of our charity status
- Investigate and support where practicable, transport initiatives that improve social welfare.
- Investigate possible grant funding
Medium Term: (2021-2023)
New 16 seat vehicle
- Start fundraising for 2022/24 bus
Funding
- Continue to ensure efficient use of TISBUS funds.
Market and users
- Review trustees’ responsibilities – continuous improvement
- Continue cooperation with adjacent operators
- Continued publicity campaign
- Recruit new members and keep them involved