Mini Bus Services
Transport of Organised Groups.
Oadby & Wigston Community Action provide affordable transport for community groups to allow them to go out around the local area, or to attend meetings regularly; we are ably supported by our volunteer drivers and escorts.
We travelled a total of over 6,000 miles during the year April 2008 to March 2009, which included the above mentioned group visits as well as our popular trips out for local people. These are well attended; we normally have two trips per month throughout the year, and as our minibus has room for only 10 passengers, 1 wheelchair plus the driver, it is on a first come first served basis. We always try to mix our trips to appeal to different interests in order to cater for everyone, able or less able bodied. We are open to new ideas yet happy to re-visit favourites as well.
The venues we have visited this year have been pub lunches at The Mill On The Soar, Broughton Astley, The Rose And Crown, Thurnby and Ullesthorpe Court Hotel and Golf Club; shopping trips to Thurmaston Retail Park and Shepshed; gardening interests were served at Woodlands Nurseries, Stapleton and at Staunton Harold; shows were enjoyed at Bridges Entertainment Venue near Worcester and historical days out at the Great Central Railway Wartime Event at Quorn and Melbourne Hall in Derbyshire.
If you would like to be on our mailing list for our trips then please do not hesitate to call us, we would be delighted to include you in the future. We feel that the transport costs are kept at a reasonable price and are value for money.
However, all this cannot be achieved without our volunteer drivers who provide us with their time and driving skills, and our escorts for ably assisting them – without their cheerfulness our scheme, especially the trips, would not be as popular or well used – so thank you all.
Elaine Smith
Trip Organisers' Meeting
Sue Hill, Project Development Manager at OWCA, held a meeting recently at OWCA's offices, between those that regularly arrange minibus trips for groups in the Oadby and Wigston area.
The trip organisers were interested in swapping ideas regarding new or favourite venues they take their groups to, and linked to that, finding out where not to go if your clients are less able to walk far or up steps. It was generally agreed that the service users were more inclined to go on trips if there were good facilities for access, such as ramps or lifts, and disabled toilet facilities.
Travelling within a certain distance, perhaps no more than an hour from the departure point, and finding a venue that offered indoor attractions such as tea shops (in case of rain), as well as a garden was a common theme with trips involving predominantly older clients. It was also agreed that obtaining accurate information from venues themselves regarding accessibility or disabled facilities were inconsistent, incorrect or vague. Hearing from those who had visited the venue first-hand or had feedback from clients, was invaluable when making decisions about whether to put a particular venue on a trips diary.
Lots of leaflets, lists and general information regarding venues was copied, printed and exchanged with each organiser finding something new to learn about the many places in Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Northamptonshire that appeal to these types of trips. Additionally, there was a consensus that it might be helpful if a common list of each group's policy and availability to hire the minibus was held between groups, so that if there were a vehicle breakdown or a volunteer driver was unable to drive that day, a trip could still go ahead as planned.
Elaine Smith
Autumn/Winter Outings Organised by OWCA
Below are just a few examples of the type of trips that we arrange throughout the Spring/Summer months:
Country Pub Lunches
Woodlands Nurseries
Foxton Locks
Ragley Hall and Gardens
National Memorial Arboretum
If you would like to be added to our circulation list for next year then please give us a call on 0116-281 0026.
Interested in Volunteering?
Please go to the Mini bus Volunteer Page.