Bridges Community Car Scheme

16/10/2026

We are celebrating Community Transport Week 💛

As we come to the end of Community Transport Week, we’d love to share some of the wonderful feedback we receive from our passengers across the county.

At Bridges Community Car Scheme, we hear from passengers every day when they call to arrange or discuss their journeys. Often, they take the opportunity to tell us about their experiences and the difference our service makes to their lives.

Here are just some of the lovely words our passengers have shared with us:

“I was so anxious about my appointment – but knowing you had a driver for me has made my anxiety fall and I can now focus on the appointment.”

“The volunteer driver made the journey so relaxed, and I really appreciated him taking the time to help me. He was amazing and the scheme is more than just transport; it is the people like him and you all that make it so wonderful.”

“I don't see very well and the team are always so considerate and speak to my daughter when I can’t do things – I feel you care.”

“It means so much to me that I can get out and do things I could not do before.”

“Joining the car scheme has been the best thing I have done and I am so grateful to you all.”

“I will never forget how much your drivers did for me when my daughter was so ill, they were so accommodating.”

“I have been most impressed by the commendable service provided by the Bridges Car Scheme, as well as the supreme courtesy afforded by everyone with whom I have come into contact since being introduced to your organisation.”

These words are a wonderful reminder of the impact community transport has beyond the journey itself. Every journey represents a person, a story and a connection – and behind every journey are the dedicated staff and volunteer drivers who make it possible.

A huge thank you to our amazing volunteer drivers and everyone who supports Bridges Community Car Scheme x

15/10/2026

Day 4 of Community Transport Association Week 2026.

Today we are hearing off Priti, a Bridges Community Car Schemes Co-Ordinator.

"People sometimes ask what I actually do.

The simple answer is that I arrange transport. But the longer answer is so much more than that.

My day can involve juggling journeys, matching passengers with volunteers, answering calls, rearranging bookings, solving last-minute problems and trying to make sure that somehow, everyone gets where they need to be. But behind every booking is a person.

A person who might be going to hospital, visiting the dentist, attending a group they love, going shopping, seeing friends, or simply getting out of the house when they otherwise would not be able to. And behind so many of those journeys is another person, one of our incredible volunteers, who has chosen to give their time to help someone else.

That is the part of this job that stays with me.

Because our volunteers don't simply turn up, drive someone from A to B and go home.

They talk, they listen, they offer reassurance when a passenger is nervous, they wait when an appointment takes longer than expected, they share stories, laughter and sometimes difficult moments and, over time, something really special can happen. A passenger gets to know the volunteer waiting at their door. A volunteer learns their passenger's little ways, trust develops, confidence grows and friendships are made, and what started as a car journey can become a connection.

As a coordinator, I hear the relief in someone's voice when we manage to find them a driver, I hear the worry when they don't know how they are going to get to an important appointment, hear the gratitude afterwards, I hear about the volunteers who have gone above and beyond. And sometimes I hear the sadness too, when a passenger's health deteriorates, when circumstances change, or when a journey that has become part of someone's routine can no longer continue.

There are challenging days. There are days when the phone doesn't seem to stop ringing and there simply aren't enough volunteers or hours in the day.

But then there are the moments that remind me exactly why this matters. A passenger telling us they couldn't have got there without us. A volunteer telling us how much they enjoy their journeys. Someone who was becoming isolated getting back to a group they love. Someone regaining a little independence. Someone simply having a friendly face waiting at the door.

That is what being a Community Car Scheme Coordinator means to me. It isn't really about transport. It's about people. It's about independence. It's about dignity. It's about connection.

It's about making sure that living in a rural community, getting older, becoming less confident with driving or simply finding yourself without transport doesn't mean becoming disconnected from the life around you. And at the heart of it all are our volunteers. People who give something incredibly valuable their time.

Every journey they make helps someone else keep a little bit of their independence, maintain a connection, attend something that matters to them, or simply feel that they are still part of their community.

I feel incredibly lucky to coordinate a scheme where I get to witness that every day."

14/10/2026

Day 3 of Community Transport Week 2026.

Today, we’d love to share a special video featuring our wonderful volunteer drivers and Passengers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDm3kDjdLVU&list=PLLAk1GKTffXE&index=4

This video has been created to highlight what Bridges Community Car Scheme is all about and we’d love you to take a few minutes to watch the video and let us know what you think 💛

If watching the video inspires you to get involved, we’d love to hear from you. We’re always looking for new volunteer drivers to help transport people across Monmouthshire and support those who rely on our scheme. Even a little of your time can make a big difference to someone’s life.

Thank you for watching, and we hope you enjoy the video! 😊 x

Please call us on 01600 228787Email at [email protected]

13/10/2026

It's Day 2 of Community Transport Week 2026!

Meet Geoff. 👋

Geoff moved to Monmouthshire from Hampshire with his wife several years ago. Shortly before the move, his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer, and she lived with the illness until she sadly passed away a few years later. Geoff says he’s so glad he made the move to Monmouthshire, where he found people to be helpful, kind and welcoming.

When Geoff stopped driving, he found himself increasingly isolated, with limited ways to get out and about. Living in the small village of Crick, where bus services are infrequent and routes are limited, even a simple journey could mean catching multiple buses.

Thankfully, his local church recognised that he needed some extra support and recommended us at Bridges Community Car Scheme.

Now, we, along with our Volunteer Drivers, help Geoff get out and about every week, whether it’s going shopping or attending his local church hall group. Geoff says that even though he might not say much when he is at the church hall, simply being around other people each week makes a huge difference to his life. 💛

And when asked about his experience with the scheme, Geoff told us:

“All the people I have been driven by have been so pleasant and so helpful.”

Stories like Geoff’s are a reminder that community transport is about so much more than getting from A to B. It’s about connection, independence, friendship and making sure no one feels they have to face life alone.

Helping people like Geoff stay connected, reduce isolation and remain part of their community is why we do what we do.

Follow along this week as we share more stories for Community Transport Association Week 2026 and celebrate the people, journeys and moments that make community transport so special.

Volunteering for Wellbeing Bridges Centre

12/10/2026

We’re celebrating Community Transport Week 2026!

From 12–16 October 2026, Community Transport Week, led by the Community Transport Association, celebrates the people and organisations helping communities stay connected.

This year’s theme is “Driving Communities Forward” and we couldn’t think of a better way to describe what community transport is all about.

Throughout the week, Bridges Community Car Scheme will be sharing stories celebrating the wonderful people who make our service possible.

Our incredible drivers, volunteers and staff do so much more than help people get from A to B. They help people stay connected, access essential services, attend appointments, meet friends and family, and remain an active part of their community.

Every journey makes a difference. Every person plays a part 😍

Follow us throughout Community Transport Week as we celebrate the people behind the journeys and the difference community transport makes every day 🚗✨

25/09/2026

Monmouthshire Day at the Senedd 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

What a lovely day celebrating Monmouthshire and the incredible people and organisations that make our communities so special.

Today, Priti and Laura had the pleasure of spending the day at the Senedd, representing two of the Bridges projects that we are so proud to be part of: Volunteering for Wellbeing and the Bridges Community Car Scheme.

It was a privilege to meet Lynne Neagle MS, Matthew Jones MS and Donna Cushing MS, to talk about the work happening across Monmouthshire and to have the opportunity to share a little about the difference our projects make to local people.

We also enjoyed a tour of the Senedd and, of course, plenty of time to chat and mingle with some of the fantastic community organisations from across the county.

It was wonderful to see so many different groups represented, all doing their bit to support, connect and strengthen our community.

Days like today really do remind you just how much incredible work happens across Monmouthshire, by volunteers and staff alike, often quietly and behind the scenes.

A lovely day, some great conversations and lots to feel proud of. 💚
Happy Monmouthshire Day! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

21/09/2026

The best way to spend a Monday morning is having a coffee with our volunteers🥰

This morning, some of wonderful volunteers met for a Coffee and natter in Bulwark Community Centre.

We enjoyed a cuppa, plenty of conversation, and the opportunity to catch up and share stories from the work we do across our community.

Our volunteers are at the heart of everything we do. Taking time to come together is a lovely reminder of the incredible difference they make every day to the people we support.

Thank you to each and every one of our volunteers. We’re incredibly grateful for everything you do! 🌟

Volunteering for Wellbeing

l

19/09/2026

Join us on Monday at Bulwark Community Centre between 10-12 💛

We'd love to invite you lovely volunteers to a coffee morning at the Bulwark Community Centre - everyone is welcome!

17/09/2026

A lovely Thursday morning in Abergavenny! 🥰

Today, some of our wonderful volunteers met at Portico Lounge in Abergavenny for a social coffee morning.

It was a great opportunity to get together with our fantastic volunteer drivers and volunteers from the local area. To catch up, share stories, enjoy a coffee and have a good chat. ☕️

These moments are so important. They give us the chance to connect, celebrate the difference our volunteers make, and remind us why the work we do is so important to the people we support.

A huge thank you to all our amazing volunteers for the time, kindness and support you give. We really couldn’t do it without you! 💛

Volunteering for Wellbeing

16/09/2026

Considering Volunteering? Here is what one of our drivers had to say...

“For me it has made a huge difference to my life because I am doing something for the community. It gets me out of a sit at home schedule and I experience the gratitude of the passengers I am taking.”

Give us a call on 01600 228787 or email us on [email protected] to begin your volunteer driving journey 🚗