Funds agreed for 'vital' transport service

Funding has been agreed for a community transport service supporting people who have no other way to get to medical appointments or social activities.

The three-year partnership between Health and Social Care (HSC) and the charity Health Connections would see the organisations work together to provide Guernsey's voluntary community transport, project leaders said.

The States said the HSC would provide £88,000 each year towards the costs of the service which would "help maintain a reliable service that meets the needs of islanders".

Jennifer Strachan, of the Committee for Health & Social Care, said it was a "vital service" an "important step in strengthening community transport for the island".

The States said volunteer drivers would continue to deliver the service due to run for an initial three-and-a-half-year term until December 2029.

The States said it "reflects a shared commitment to supporting islanders' health, independence and social connection, particularly for those who would otherwise struggle to get where they need to be," while also supporting wider wellbeing by helping people attend activities that reduce loneliness and social isolation.

Adrian Gabriel, President of the Committee for Environment & Infrastructure, said community transport helped to "bridge the gap" between for those trips that were not available through a conventional bus service.

Bella Farrell, CEO of Health Connections, said community transport was "a lifeline for many people, and this partnership gives us the stability to keep improving the service".

She said more than 3,000 journeys had already taken place in 2026 and the new partnership would "enable us to maintain and grow the service that connects people to the support and care in the community they need".

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