A £30,000 fundraising campaign to buy a state-of-the-art new minibus providing a “lifeline” for community groups, elderly and disabled people across Bexley, was launched at Broadway Shopping Centre.

It will mean more community groups will be able to use the minibus run by Bexley Accessible Transport Scheme (BATS), as it is lightweight so anyone with a regular car license can drive it.

It will also provide more modern and comfortable transport for hundreds of elderly and vulnerable shoppers who use BATS’ hop-on-hop off Shopmobility service which is based at Broadway Shopping Centre.

The campaign, launched by BATS staff and volunteers outside Argos, is being backed by Broadway Shopping Centre, which is also donating £7,000 to keep BATS’ Shopmobility service going in 2017.

Among the service users who joined BATS staff and volunteers to get the wheels rolling on the minibus fundraising campaign was grandmother-of-two Rosemary White.

The 84-year-old from Erith Park, Bexley who says without the regular Shopmobility service, she wouldn’t leave her house.

The Bexley gran, who survived cancer three years ago, suffers with Type 2 Diabetes and relies on the service to buy fresh food to maintain her diet.

“Apart from getting food every week it gets me out to meet people and have a chat,” she said.

“When I started using the service more than five years ago I didn’t have quite as many things wrong with me but now it’s so important I’m able to get out because of my health.

“I have to eat right and it allows me to get out and buy fresh food and fruit. It’s literally a lifeline for me.

“Everything becomes much heavier when you get older and it becomes more difficult. There’s a little hill up the road to where I live and I couldn’t pull trolley up there. The brilliant thing about the service is the driver brings in the bags for you.”

She added: “I’m proud to support the campaign. The service is absolutely brilliant. I would love to see a new mini bus on the road and other community groups benefitting.”

This Shopmobility service costs £10,000 a year to run on top of the cost of the minibus. It is located on the roof of the Broadway Shopping Centre and provides wheelchairs and mobility scooters for disabled shoppers.

Lorraine Stares, BATS Chief Executive Officer, explained the new mini bus, which will cost at least £30,000, is a Peugeot Minibus Lite model and will be available to hire for community groups and voluntary organisations.

It has a lower weight than the current 2004 model BATS uses which means anyone with a regular (Class B) driving licence can drive it – increasing access for community groups whose volunteers do not hold a specialist D1 licence.

Lorraine said the organisation was keen to help local community groups which couldn’t afford their own minibus or struggled to find volunteers with the D1 licence needed to drive a regular minibus.

“In the past, we’ve had groups calling to say their driver is unwell and because they’ve been the only licence holder, they’ve had to cancel trips,” she said.

“If we’re able to purchase one of the new lightweight vehicles for our fleet, then it opens the door to lots more community groups and organisations as anyone with a normal driving licence will be qualified to drive.

“We have at least 20 regular users of our ‘hop and shop’ service which has been going for eight years now.

“Some of our users can’t walk to their local corner shops to get what they need. Our drivers are very patient and help the service users. Sometimes it’s the only time these people get to see anybody.”

Broadway Shopping Centre MJanager Peter Sedge said: “I’m proud we’re able to host BATS’ fantastic fundraising campaign to continue its valuable ‘hop and shop’ service for elderly and disabled people living in the borough.

“Being able to get out and about and meet people is vital for mental health and wellbeing and I wish the service the best of luck in its efforts to buy a new vehicle which will widen the benefits of the scheme throughout the community.

“I’m also delighted to offer our continued financial support to Shopmobility with a donation of £7,000 to continue its mobility services within the shopping centre over the next 12 months and provide a lifeline for many people.”

BATS is hoping to raise enough money to buy the new minibus by the end of August this year. With a 16-week turn-around on new minibus orders, it hopes the new vehicle will be on the road by the end of 2017.

“It’s a really exciting project. We’re hoping the community pulls together to support us,” said Lorraine.

“This service is a continuation of our Shopmobility service and is vital to many people. Broadway is the only shopping centre in the borough with a Shopmobility service and we’re incredibly grateful for the centre’s continuing support and our fantastic relationship with it.

“We’re also very grateful for the centre allowing us to launch the campaign in such a prominent place as well as safeguarding the future of the Shopmobillity service. Without its support, we would doubt we could continue with the service.”

Among those attending the fundraising launch was Bexleyheath Mayor Eileen Pallen who chatted to shoppers as BATS hosted a series of activities including face painting, a ‘name the bear’ competition and a raffle.

A spokesperson said: “The Mayor of Bexley is very happy that BATS is supporting her in tackling loneliness in older people in Bexley as reliable transport is a key issue for older people who want to get out of their homes and back into their community where they belong.”

Volunteer-run BATS is offering local companies a chance to have their logo featured on the minibus in return for £5,000 sponsorship fee.

“When you work that out over the life of the minibus it’s 78p a day for advertising,” said Lorraine.

“It’s a great way to be seen as the minibus will be mobile across the borough. We want local companies to feel a sense of ownership over the vehicle and feel proud that they’re helping their community by putting it on the road.”

Shopmobility is open at Broadway Shopping Centre on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 10am until 3pm (last hire 1.30pm). It is advisable to book in advance, to secure a suitable vehicle for your, by calling: 020 8301 5237.

Anyone interested in being a sponsor can contact BATS on 01322 311 333. For more information about BATS visit: www.bexleyct.co.uk For more information about stores at Broadway Shopping Centre go to www.broadwayshoppingcentre.com or visit the centre’s Facebook page or Twitter account @BroadwayBexley Based on information supplied by Deb James.