New community fund helps keep vital local transport service on the road

A £500 donation from the recently created East of England Co-op Community Cares Fund has helped a local charity to keep vital transport services on the road for vulnerable people in Felixstowe.

Felixstowe Area Community Transport Service (FACTS), a non-profit organisation who provide transport to the elderly and disabled, saw demand for their support increase significantly when the Coronavirus pandemic forced a reduction in public transport services. 

A £500 donation from the East of England Co-op Community Cares Fund will help FACTS to adapt their services in response to the ongoing crisis. From collecting pharmacy prescriptions to running essential shopping trips, FACTS ensures isolated and vulnerable people without their own transport can continue to access the essential services they need. 

Niall O’Keeffe, Joint Chief Executive for the East of England Co-op said; “The Felixstowe Area Community Transport Service is truly a lifeline for the elderly and those with physical, cognitive or sensory impairments in Felixstowe. We are delighted to support the fantastic work the FACTs volunteers are doing at this difficult time. Their efforts are essential to members of the local community”.

The donation is one of the first made from the East of England Co-op Community Cares Fund, created to support community groups and charities across the region during, and after, the Coronavirus crisis.

The donation will enable FACTS to purchase fuel for prescription collections and deliveries. Since the beginning of the pandemic, FACTS have completed nearly 9,000 medication runs and are now extending their support to help deliver food parcels to the local community.

Further information about FACTS and how to access their services, visit www.factsbus.org.uk.