EMPLOYMENT charity Aspire Oxford has launched a new bus service, offering trips out for the elderly in Jericho.
The minibus service, launched with the backing of Jericho and Osney county councillor Susanna Pressel's councillor priority fund, is designed for older residents and people with restricted mobility living in Jericho and Kingston Road, who cannot access other forms of public transport.
The initiative will mean residents can access shopping and trips out, making a significant difference to their quality of life.
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The two-service started on Tuesday and will run twice every Tuesday, taking passengers from the Jericho area into the city centre with return journeys in the afternoon.
Aspire has been running a community transport service across Oxford city for the past four years which has been a lifeline in reducing isolation for over 180 older passengers each year.
Ms Pressel said: “I’m delighted to be working with Aspire to run this much-needed new local bus service.
“There used to be a daily Jericho bus service from Monday to Friday, run by Thames Travel, but it was quite heavily subsidised. Government cuts meant that the county council unfortunately had to end the subsidy, so this route was no longer viable.
“A lot of people in my ward now really struggle to get into town or to other bus routes, which is sad. Even if they can get into town, they may find it hard to get back with heavy shopping. I hope this new service will help them to get out and about more.”
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Paul Roberts, CEO of Aspire Oxford, said: “We are thrilled to be able to launch this new accessible transport service for residents living in Jericho and Kingston Road.
“We’ve seen firsthand the difference that our Community Transport bus service makes in reducing loneliness and isolation: without this service, 58 per cent of our passengers would not be able to leave their homes.
“This new service means that we can meet the needs of a growing number of isolated older people across Oxford city.”
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Anyone wishing to use the service must hold a valid concessionary card and also meet Aspire’s eligibility criteria.
Passengers will need to register to use this service and the annual membership will be free for the first year.
Aspire Oxford started running the route in April 2015 with a £74,000 lump sum from Oxfordshire County Council after it stopped funding the old Dial-a-Ride service. Destinations included Templars Square shopping centre in Cowley and Sainsbury’s at Heyford Hill. Anyone interested in accessing the new service should call Aspire Oxford on 01865 819995.
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