VULNERABLE residents will be transported in style after a charity secured a grant to buy a new minibus.

Community360 secured £44,000 from Essex County Council’s Covid Response Fund to purchase the new vehicle and improve its existing community transport service.

The service helps vulnerable residents access essential services such as GP surgeries and dentists’ practices as well as social events, when they would otherwise be unable to do so.

Tracy Rudling, chief executive officer of Community360, said: “So many people in our community struggle to get to places through lack of accessible transport.

“This new minibus will have a huge impact on what we can offer and will greatly enhance our ability to provide services for those disadvantaged in our area.

“Voluntary and community services really stepped up during the pandemic to provide support to communities.

“We helped people to stay connected and provided first line, self-organised community support to those in need.

“We also provided transport to clinically extremely vulnerable people to vaccination appointments in Colchester and Maldon.

“Moving forward we want to continue and improve our transport offering and this crucial funding will really help us to do that.”

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Essex County Council secured funding from the Department of Health and Social Care to support the increased demand on voluntary sector groups in the county during the pandemic.

Louise McKinlay, Essex county councillor responsible for community, equality, partnership and performance, said: “We are pleased to have been able to support Commuity360 with funding for a replacement van and other necessary equipment.

“They have done a fantastic job, which has included providing transport to those who are particularly vulnerable and need to be more isolated when travelling.

“We are grateful to the staff and volunteers for the valuable service they provide.”

With more minibuses now on the road, Community360 has launched a recruitment campaign for additional volunteer drivers.

Anyone who might be able to help is asked to go to community360.org.uk/ services/volunteering for more information.