Enfield Community Transport by Philip Hammond

10th April 2016

Enfield Community Transport by Philip Hammond

As featured in our community magazine Palmers Green & Southgate LIFE magazine in March 2016

Enfield Community Transport is a charity based in Enfield and has been helping the residents of Enfield with their transport since 1986. We cover the whole of the borough from Edmonton and Bounds Green in the south to Southgate and Cockfosters in the north and all points in-between.

Enfield Community Transport has been providing accessible transport to those in the borough who cannot access the usual forms of transport for thirty years. We started with one minibus working out of the old Highlands Hospital we then moved to Edmonton Green and our fleet of vehicles expanded to seven minibuses. Our next move was to Melling Drive in the north of the borough where the fleet grew to 14 vehicles. ECT then moved again and now operates out of the council’s new site in the east of the borough at Morson Road.

We work closely with the London Borough of Enfield and other groups, health care providers and organisations to provide a transport service aimed at improving access to health, education, sport, social and economic opportunities to all sectors of the community. ECT is about freedom and fairness of opportunity. It provides an essential, responsive service for a wide range of people – often the most vulnerable in society.

ECT operates 11 minibuses and three multi-purpose vehicles, twelve of them are wheelchair accessible, the other two are standard fourteen seater minibuses. These vehicles are available to all members of the community on a self-drive basis. We also have a small pool of volunteer drivers that may be able to help.

ECT has always been proud of its volunteer drivers that have given countless hours to ECT and the community. We are always looking for people who could help us by offering some of their valuable time to help out. You don’t need a special license to drive our minibuses, you need to be over 21 years of age and have held a U K driving license for at least two years. You will be required to undertake a driving assessment with us. ECT need volunteers to help with taking people to their groups, clubs etc. or maybe a day trip to the coast or place of interest, possibly to take someone for an appointment or visit a relative who’s in hospital and is unable get there by public transport.

ECT also organises days out for the local community. We have helped Ruth Winston House and Enfield Vision to go on outings, Ruth Winston’s clients went on a successful trip to the Dickens festival in Rochester just before Christmas and Enfield Vision had days out to the coast and to Canterbury which they enjoyed.

If you could use our services or you are interested in volunteering please get in touch.

Call 020 8363 2255 or e-mail ect@enfieldcommunitytransport.co.uk