Community transport

Community transport is for anyone of any age who does not have their own transport and who cannot access public transport services easily.  

In East Cambridgeshire, the people who use these services are generally older people, those with a disability and those who are isolated because of the rural nature of the district.  

Payment may vary from one provider to another. Service users may contribute towards the cost of fuel, join as a member or pay a subsidised cost for the journey. 

Community car schemes

Many of the community car schemes provide transport for social and medical purposes, such as GP appointments, opticians, dentists, picking up prescriptions, visiting friends, and shopping. They can also undertake journeys to visit friends and family in hospital, and outpatient department appointments, although drivers may not be able to wait long for return visits.  

Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.

Ask your local scheme for more details. 

East Cambs Social Car Scheme

Community car scheme for people in Ely and surrounding areas.

Telephone: 01353 666553
Email: carscheme@vcaec.org.uk 
Website: Voluntary Community Action East Cambs

Driving Miss Daisy Newmarket  

Community car service covering Newmarket and surrounding area including East Cambridgeshire and West Suffolk.  

Telephone: 0333 014 6211  
Mobile: 07525 872 936
Email: newmarket@drivingmissdaisy.co.uk 
Website: Driving Miss Daisy Newmarket

Burwell Village Help Scheme

Community car scheme for residents of Burwell and Reach.

Telephone: 07399 154913 

Three Rivers Car Scheme

Community car scheme covering Chippenham, Fordham, Isleham, Kennett and Snailwell. 

Telephone: 07549 892322 

Community Car Service - East Cambs

Community car service covering Fordham, Burwell, the Swaffhams, Dullingham, Stetchworth, Ashley and Cheveley.

Telephone: 01638 664304 
Email: info@thevoluntarynetwork.org 
Website: The Voluntary Network

Voluntary and dial-a-ride services

FACT-Dial-a-car

FACT Community Transport is a charity serving the East Cambridgeshire, Fenland and Huntingdon areas, for people who have no other means of transport.  

This service is based on your needs and can be used to take you to appointments, shopping, or anywhere you need to go that you cannot get to.  

All cars are specially adapted to accommodate one wheelchair user and up to three passengers and have been designed to ensure every passenger feels safe, secure and enjoys their journey.  

This is a pre-bookable service and is unable to take same day bookings. You must be a member of FACT to use this service.  

Telephone: 01354 661234  
Email: info@cotransport.org 
Website: FACT Cambs 

Dial-A-Ride Service (East Cambs)

Offers a Connecting Communities service in many areas of the district; for longer journeys, the service will connect you to other bus or train services.  

Connecting Communities can be used for social, appointments, study, shopping or work.  

All journeys are pre-booked.  

Telephone: 01638 664304  
Email: info@thevoluntarynetwork.org 
Website: The Voluntary Network

Minibus hire

Both FACT and The Voluntary Network in Newmarket have 12 to 16-seat wheelchair accessible minibuses.  

Community groups and clubs, as well as not-for-profit organisations, can hire these vehicles with a driver supplied.  

Please contact FACT on 01354 661234 and The Voluntary Network on 01638 608080 

Accessible taxis

Local taxi services, provided in Ely and surrounding areas, which are able to accommodate wheelchairs are below.  

Journeys need to be pre-booked and services may be limited to between 9.30am and 2pm on school days.  

Contact the taxi company for more details of availability.  

Fencabs: 01353 669966  
A2B Taxi cabs: 01353 661010  

The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Wheelchair Users’ Forum offers people an opportunity to share their experiences and help to shape wheelchair services for the future. 

Blue Badges

Blue Badge permits provide parking concessions if you have severe mobility problems and have difficulty using public transport. Blue Badge holders can either be the driver or the passenger of the vehicle they are travelling in. You can apply for or renew a Blue Badge on GOV.UK's website or 0343 100 1000. 

More information about who is eligible for a Blue Badge can be found on Cambridgeshire County Council’s website.  

People with disabilities can park free of charge in all the district council's car parks for an unlimited period of time as long as:

  • a valid Blue Badge is displayed on the dashboard of the vehicle
  • the registered disabled person is either driving or a passenger
  • the vehicle is parked within a bay (not double yellow line)

Shop mobility

Shop  mobility schemes can lend manual wheelchairs and powered scooters to members of the public with limited mobility to shop or visit leisure and other facilities within the town or shopping centre.  

  • Ely Museum, The Old Gaol, Market Street, Ely, Cambs CB7 4LS 01353 666655
  • Newmarket Shop mobility Customer Information Office, The Guineas Shopping Centre, Newmarket, Suffolk, CB8 8EQ 01638 719749 

Volunteering

If you like helping people, have a few hours spare time and hold a clean driving licence, then you could be just whom we are looking for to provide essential transport for vulnerable people in your community.  

All of the community car schemes welcome more volunteer drivers to help them provide transport for people who are unable to use conventional public transport. You will use your own car and be paid a mileage allowance.  

Burwell Village Help Scheme

Telephone: 07399 154913  

East Cambs Social Car Scheme

Telephone: 01353 666553  

Community Car Service-East Cambs

Telephone: 01638 664304

Three Rivers Car Scheme

Telephone: 07549 892322