Community Car Schemes

Community Car Schemes provide a lifeline to those who would otherwise be unable to get to medical appointments, the shops or keep in touch with relatives and friends. The passenger pays a fixed rate per mile contribution towards the cost of the journey to the volunteer driver who uses their own car.

Journeys are booked through a volunteer co-ordinator. Most Community Car Schemes rely on drivers based in the village in which each scheme operates. As it is a volunteer led service and drivers may not always be available, it is essential to book your journey as much in advance as possible. To find out more about your local community car scheme, including contact information and the types of journeys that are eligible, visit this webpage (details under the drop down menu in Community Transport in South Cambridgeshire) or call the Care Network Community Navigator for South Cambs on 01954 212100.

If you live in Royston or a neighbouring South Cambs village, you can contact Royston and District Community Transport which offers door-to-door transport Monday to Friday (and occasionally on Saturdays) for people who are unable to use conventional public transport for reasons of age, frailty or impaired mobility. There is a Medical MPV available for single wheelchair users who cannot transfer to a car. Contact via telephone 01763 245 228 – 9am to 3pm, Monday to Friday or email [email protected]

Volunteering as a Driver or Setting up a Community Car Scheme:

If you are interested in volunteering as a driver, you can find out more from Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) – volunteer drivers are reimbursed 15p per mile and CPCA can assist with insurance and Disclosure and Barring Service checks.

Care Network Cambridgeshire works with CPCA to set up, support and sustain community car schemes and may be able to help with any enquiries you may have – for example, if you’d like to set up a scheme in your village.

Taxicard Scheme:

Provided by CPCA, the Taxicard Scheme aims to provide assistance towards the cost of taxi journeys for people over the age of 65 who have difficulty using public transport and do not own their own vehicle. This service is mainly for essential purposes such as medical appointments or shopping and is limited to the villages listed below:

• Babraham
• Cambourne (Great, Lower & Upper)
• Fen Ditton
• Fulbourn
• Girton
• Grantchester
• Histon
• Horningsea
• Impington
• Oakington
• Papworth Everard
• Sawston
• Teversham

Visit this website to find out more or call 01223 790149 to speak to the Community Transport team at Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority.

Getting to Hospital Appointments:

If you are attending an appointment at Addenbrooke’s Hospital or the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge, and have a medical need that means you are unable to use public transport or drive, there’s information about help with travel and travel costs here.

Help with Health Costs:

If you are on a low income, you may be eligible for help with health costs including transport to and from health appointments – ask your Community Car Scheme to provide receipts for the cost of your journeys and you can claim this back. More information here.