Transport

One of the greatest barriers to employment and learning in North Belfast is a lack of suitable public or private transport.

Urban II recognise this as an issue and have set the following key objective:

“To provide innovative transport options to link unemployed people with job opportunities in the urban economy”

With the aim of achieving this objective Urban II have facilitated the development of two community transport schemes in the area.

Urban II supported the pilot Ardoyne Community Transport Initiative with a grant of £144,000 to purchase a minibus, scooters and bicycles. This scheme provides transport to those who are currently employed but require transport assistance in order to sustain their employment; people who require transport assistance in the search for work; people wanting to access voluntary work and people wishing to access training opportunities.

To date this scheme has proved very successful, with young people in particular, using the scooters and bicycles to access employment and training opportunities. The usage of minibus hire has often been over subscribed which supports the need and demonstrates the success of this venture. Ardoyne Community Transport are currently looking at expanding the services they provide.

For more information on Ardoyne Community Transport please email Shane Whelehan at whelehan@lycos.com

The success of the pilot scheme and the recognised need for a community transport system throughout Inner North Belfast led to Urban II funding the establishment of the North Belfast Community Transport Company (NBCT).

NBCT was company registered in November 2004 and currently has directorship representatives from 4 geographical Community Empowerment Partnerships within the Urban II area, namely Cliftonville, Greater New Lodge, Lower North and Upper North.

The company, supported with funding of £490,000 from Urban II, operates 5 fully accessible minibuses to link the population of inner North Belfast to opportunities in the mainstream economy through the provision of an affordable and accessible transport service which will help remove transport as a barrier to employment and training opportunities.

The scheme seeks to address the following transport problems which are typical in the North Belfast area:

• Irregular transport services off main routes, particularly early morning and evenings meaning access to employment in and around North Belfast is limited
• Poor transport services at weekends
• Transport difficulties for community groups attending meetings and events etc
• Inadequate transport services for the disabled and the elderly
• Existing transport is expensive making it difficult for community groups and organisations to use it.

For information on North Belfast Community Transport email Tina McMillen at nbcommunitytransport@fsmail.com, tel 028 90747700 or visit their website www.northbelfastcommunitytransport.org.