**David Kelly, Scotland Director and Head of Policy & Campaigns, Community Transport Association** More than 200 communities across Scotland now run their own transport projects and services in the interests of local people. Community Transport serves all kinds of places and every part of society. It utilises all kinds of modes, whether bikes, buses, cars or minibuses, and enables all kinds of journeys, whether commutes to work and school, trips to hospital or visits to family and friends. **Read more** Community Transport is about so much more than simply getting from A to B. It is about connection, independence, and dignity. For many people across Scotland, particularly older people, disabled people, and those living in rural and island communities, Community Transport is a lifeline that enables them to access essential services, maintain social connections, and participate fully in the life of their community. Yet the organisations that deliver these vital services are operating in an increasingly precarious environment. Rising costs, particularly around fuel, insurance, and vehicle maintenance, combined with a funding landscape that is short-term, uncertain, and often failing to keep pace with inflation, are placing enormous strain on the sector. The result is that many Community Transport organisations are being forced to make difficult decisions about which services they can continue to provide, and for how long. Some are reducing their operations, others are dipping into reserves simply to keep going, and a number face the very real prospect of closure. When a Community Transport service is lost, it is the most vulnerable members of our communities who pay the price. Fair Funding would provide the stability and security that Community Transport organisations so desperately need. Multi-year funding, inflationary uplifts, and a recognition of the true costs of delivering these services would allow the sector to plan ahead, retain skilled staff and volunteers, and continue connecting communities across Scotland. We depend on grant funding -------------------------- Across Scotland, and particularly in our rural and island communities, Community Transport plays an absolutely essential role in keeping people connected. For those who cannot access or afford private transport, or who are unable to use conventional public transport due to age, disability, or the simple absence of services in their area, Community Transport is often the only option available. It enables people to attend medical appointments, do their shopping, collect prescriptions, and, crucially, maintain the social connections that are so important to health and wellbeing. But the organisations providing these services are far from immune to the challenges posed by the current funding landscape. In fact, given the significant and rising costs involved in operating vehicles, Community Transport organisations are particularly vulnerable to the impact of funding that fails to keep pace with inflation and the true cost of service delivery. _“We depend on grant funding to keep our services running, but the short-term nature of that funding makes it incredibly difficult to plan,”_ explains a Community Transport organisation serving a rural community. _“Every year we face the same uncertainty, not knowing whether we’ll be able to continue providing the services our community relies on.”_ _“The cost of everything has gone up – fuel, insurance, maintenance – but our funding hasn’t kept pace,”_ adds a provider operating across a large rural area. _“We’re being asked to do more with less, and there’s only so long that can continue before something has to give.”_ _“Our volunteers are the backbone of what we do, but we need funding to recruit, train, and support them properly,”_ says another organisation. _“Without that, we simply can’t sustain the services that so many people depend on.”_ The introduction of Fair Funding would allow Community Transport organisations to move away from the constant uncertainty that currently defines their existence, providing the security needed to plan ahead, invest in their services, and continue connecting the people and communities that rely on them so heavily. _“Fair Funding would mean we could finally plan for the future rather than lurching from one year to the next,”_ says the rural Community Transport organisation. _“It would give us the stability to keep our community connected for years to come.”_ [HcL Transport](https://www.hcltransport.org.uk/) ------------------------------------------------- **HcL Transport** is a charity that has been providing accessible Community Transport across Edinburgh and the Lothians for over 40 years. Supporting people who are unable to use or access conventional public transport, including older people and disabled people, the organisation delivers a range of services that enable people to remain active, independent, and connected to their communities. From door-to-door transport to group outings and essential journeys, **HcL Transport** provides a genuine lifeline to some of the most vulnerable people in society. Despite the essential nature of its work, the organisation operates within a funding landscape that presents significant and ongoing challenges. Much of the funding available to **HcL Transport** is short-term and restricted, creating uncertainty and making it difficult to plan for the future with any real confidence. This is compounded by the fact that funding has consistently failed to keep pace with the rising costs of delivering transport services, particularly the significant increases in fuel, insurance, and vehicle maintenance costs seen in recent years. The impact of these funding challenges is felt throughout the organisation. The uncertainty created by short-term funding makes it difficult to retain skilled staff, who understandably seek more secure employment elsewhere, while also placing considerable strain on the dedicated volunteers who are so central to the delivery of services. At the same time, the organisation is forced to devote significant time and resources to the constant search for funding, diverting valuable capacity away from the frontline services that make such a difference to people’s lives. With demand for accessible transport continuing to grow, particularly as Scotland’s population ages, the pressure on **HcL Transport** only continues to increase. Without a funding landscape that provides the security and sustainability the organisation needs, there is a very real risk that services will have to be reduced, leaving vulnerable people without the transport they rely on to access essential services and maintain their independence. For **HcL Transport**, the implementation of Fair Funding would be genuinely transformational. Multi-year funding and inflationary uplifts that reflect the true cost of delivering accessible transport would provide the stability required to plan ahead, retain experienced staff, support volunteers, and continue delivering the vital services that keep people connected across Edinburgh and the Lothians. [Previous: Children & young people](/ff-next-steps-final-copy/children-young-people) [Next: Crime & justice](/ff-next-steps-final-copy/crime-justice) --- ## About SCVO SCVO (Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations) is the national membership organisation for Scotland's voluntary sector. 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