Older people in Hertfordshire can benefit from the county’s large number of community transport schemes. Almost every region of Hertfordshire has a dedicated community transport service to help older people get from their home to where they need to go, including medical appointments, to the shops, or to a lunch club.
There are a few different types of transport that community transport services provide. The most common are dial-a-ride services: with a dial-a-ride service your relative can call in advance to book transport at a specific time for a specific journey and a local volunteer will collect your relative from their house and take them to where they need to go. There is usually a small cost, based on the mileage of the journey.
Some of Hertfordshire’s community transport schemes also have access to minibuses. These minibuses can be hired by groups for specific journeys – for example a Day Out in Hertfordshire. In other cases, there may be regular trips to the shops or to town and their volunteers can help with shopping. These minibuses are usually wheelchair-accessible.
If your relative is looking for transport to and from a medical appointment and their mobility needs mean they can not use a regular means of public transport, they may be eligible for Hertfordshire’s Patient Transport Services.
Below you can find out more about the community transport services operating in the different regions of Hertfordshire.
Community Transport Schemes in North Hertfordshire
Royston & District Community Transport
Royston & District Community Transport provides a door-to-door dial-a-ride transport service for people that live in Royston and the surrounding villages of North & East Hertfordshire. The service is intended for those who are unable to use other forms of public transport. The fleet that they operate include multi-purpose vehicles and wheelchair-accessible minibuses, for those who need them.
Royston and District Community Transport require at least three days notice for a journey and there is a fee of 60p per mile travelled, confirmed and agreed at the time of booking (minimum charge is ยฃ6.00). Thisย is paid to the driver at the end of the journey.
- Telephone: 01763 245228
- Visit Website
North Herts CVS
Residents of North Hertfordshire and Stevenage can use the North Herts CVS Community Transport scheme to get about. Their dial-a-ride service can be used for healthcare appointments, leisure visits, social visits and to get to day care centres.
North Herts CVS charge rates ofย 45pย per mile, starting from the driverโs home address. There is a minimum charge of ยฃ5.00, which covers the first 11 miles of any journey. There is also an annual service fee of ยฃ18.00 for anyone planning to use the service more than a couple of times a year.
- Telephone: 01462 689402
- Email: [email protected]
- Visit Website
Community Transport Schemes in East Hertfordshire
East Herts & Broxbourne Community Car Scheme
The East Herts Community Car Scheme is run by the Broxbourne and East Herts Community Alliance. They provide a dial-a-ride service for older people in East Hertfordshire in order for them to get to and from appointments. There is a cost of 50p per mile, counted from the driver’s home.
- Telephone: 0300 123 1677
- Email: [email protected]
- Visit Website
Royal Voluntary Service Community Cars (Hertford & Broxbourne)
Hertfordshire’s Royal Voluntary Service Transport can provide journeys for older residents of Hertford and Broxbourne as part of their dial-a-ride service. They can provide trips to hospital and GP appointments, as well as for trips to the shops or into town.
- Telephone: 01992 552 069
- Email: [email protected]
- Visit Website
Welwyn Hatfield Community Car Scheme
The Welwyn Hatfield Community Car Scheme is funded by Hertfordshire County Council and the East and North Hertfordshire CCG. They provide a dial-a-ride service for older people who need help getting to medical appointments, day centres, lunch clubs, shops and visiting relatives.
The service is operated by local, vetted volunteers, and there is a charge of 60p per mile from the volunteerโs home. They ask that you request your journey at least one week in advance.
- Telephone: 01707 273875
- Email: [email protected]
- Visit Website
Community Transport Schemes in North West Hertfordshire
Redbourn Care Group
Redbourn Care Group have a team of volunteer car drivers that can assist older people in getting to hospitals, surgeries and other healthcare appointments. This is part of their dial-a-ride service. A donation towards costs is requested but funding is available for those who genuinely cannot make a contribution.
The Redbourne Care Group also provide regular minibus journeys for local elderly people to get toย social activitiesย such as group outings, local clubs, and regular supermarket shopping trip.
- Telephone: 01582 794550
- Email: [email protected]
- Visit Website
Harpenden Helping Hand
Harpenden Helping Hand can provide dial-a-ride transport to local medical and health appointments for older people living in the Harpenden area who struggle to use public transport. They ask for a small donation to charity in exchange for the help provided.
- Telephone: ย 01582 764599
- Visit Website
Wheathampstead Community Group
The Wheathapstead Community Group has a large team of around 50 volunteer drivers providing a dial-a-ride service to people in the Wheathapmstead area who need to get to hospital and doctor’s appointments. Their volunteers can also assist with going out for a bit of shopping if there are not others with an immediate medical need.
- Telephone: 07918 136870
- Visit Website
St. Albans Good Neighbour Scheme
The St. Albans Good Neighbour Scheme’s dial-a-ride service can assist elderly residents of St. Albans in getting to and from their medical appointments. They are also able to assist with going shopping and the service is entirely free. They ask that you try to provide two weeks notice prior to a journey, where possible.
- Telephone: 01727 830713
- Visit Website
Bovingdon Connect
Bovingdon Connect is a village-based volunteer dial-a-ride service for the elderly, disabled and those not able to use local public transport services. The service is aimed at people who need support getting to and from medical and welfare appointments, but they are also able to provide support getting to the shops or social appointments.
Bovingdon Connect requires a reasonable amount of notice for your relative’s journey and a cost of 45p per mile as well as parking fees.
- Telephone: 07376 832999
- Visit Website
Community Transport Schemes in South West Hertfordshire
Rickmansworth Transport Solutions
Rickmansworth Care can provide aย dial-a-ride service for people living inย the Rickmansworth, Croxley Green, Mill End and Maple Cross areas of South West Hertfordshireย whoย need support getting around. The service is free, but they do welcome donations.
- Telephone: 07935 269144
- Email: [email protected]
- Visit Website
Watford & Three Rivers Trust
Watford and Three Rivers Trust have a dial-a-ride service to help elderly residents of Watford and Three Rivers get to medical and health appointments with their safe, reliable and affordable service. They ask that you get in touch with them regarding costing up your journey.
- Telephone: 01923 216967
- Email: [email protected]
- Visit Website