A LIFELINE service providing transport for elderly people and others across a swathe of the South Hams can face the future with confidence thanks to a £9,000 grant.

Ivybridge and District Community Transport Association has been given the money out of South Hams Council’s Town and Parish fund.

The association, which operates the Ivybridge Ring and Ride service with its three minibuses, as well as a volunteer car scheme, says the grant will allow it to transform the way it works.

The TAP fund is open to town and parish councils, and IDTA was supported in its application by Ivybridge Town Council. It was awarded the full £8,901.60 for which it applied.

The organisation serves a wide area with a handful of part-time staff, and has seen grants frozen in recent years.

Meanwhile the IDTA – which operates from Brixton and Wembury and the edge of Plymouth, over to South Brent and up to villages like Cornwood, Sparkwell and Lutton – has become increasingly vital to those who rely on it, following swingeing county council cuts to public transport.

A significant part of the association’s work involves transporting clients to and from GP and hospital appointments, but it also takes people shopping and on other essential journeys, as well as offering a range of trips and days out to those who cannot drive or access a car.

The association’s coordinator Alex Thorn said the money had come at a crucial time.

He explained: ‘The problem we’ve had is in the last three years, everyone’s had cutbacks, and while we haven’t actually had our council grants cut they have remained the same, which is a cut in real terms.

‘But our costs are going up – we have to pay the living wage to our drivers soon, and office space and other costs are rising. In addition, our requirement for data reporting - providing mostly accounting information - has increased, and we just don’t have the resources to deal with that.

‘We can’t continue without more funds.

‘Last year, we were one of the most efficient services in Devon – we have to be, as we’re down to the bare bones – but we need to change our model. Whereas previously we’ve relied on council grants, now we have to be more self-funding and look for other grants and sources of money.

‘But it’s a vicious circle – you need to be able to put in the time to do it.’

The one-off TAP grant will fund a 46-week programme for the IDTA during which it will work towards three goals: to tell the public what it is, and what it offers; to publicise the need for more volunteer drivers; and to invite and source other means of funding.

The total cost of the project is around £12,000, of which £2,000 will be contributed by the association itself, with a further £1,000 from the town council.

Alex continued: ‘One of the aims is to let people know that we’re here, and what we offer. There’s anecdotal evidence that people don’t know about us, or know about the ring and ride but not the volunteer drivers.

‘Community transport associations are essential, but we go a bit under the radar.

‘We’re not necessarily high-profile charities – but we’re very important for those that need us.’

Ivybridge town clerk Lesley Hughes said: ‘We were delighted to support the IDTA by nominating them for TAP funding as well as adding to our existing grant funding for 2016/17, as the work they do for our town, and the surrounding communities, enables older people to continue living in their own homes yet not be isolated and alone – something that has recently been given a lot of publicity.

‘The extra funding will enable them to try and expand the services, creating greater awareness of what they do, making them accessible to more people who perhaps have slipped under the radar.

‘We work closely with Alex and his team when organising the Christmas day party at The Watermark. This year one of the volunteer drivers was our mayor, Cllr Dave Gray-Taylor, so he has been able to experience first hand the vital work done by the Ivybridge Ring & Ride service.’

South Hams district councillor Kathy Cuthbert announced the successful application at a recent meeting of Ivybridge Town Council.

Afterwards, she said: ‘This is excellent news for Ivybridge and the surrounding area. The ring and ride provides such a good service for the elderly and those who struggle to get about, and anything that allows it to grow is a good thing.

‘What was particularly pleasing at the council meeting was the support from other district councillors, and county councillor Roger Croad. It just goes to show the level of support there is for the IDTA.’