Historic occasion sees Pembrokeshire Community Transport Strategy officially launched

The Pembrokeshire Community Transport (CT) Strategy was officially launched at Saundersfoot’s Regency Hall last Thursday, July 2, setting out a bold new vision for the future of CT in the county.

The event, which was hosted by Pembrokeshire Association of Community Transport Organisations (PACTO), welcomed over 70 partner organisations, who were in attendance to learn more details about the shared vision to transform how people connect to services, opportunities and each other across our county via CT.

Gemma Lelliott, the Wales Director and Head of Advice and Support at Community Transport Association (CTA), opened the conference with a welcome from the CTA, before providing an overview from a CTA perspective and outlining the national context, including campaigns, legislation and securing a fairer deal for volunteer drivers who are the backbone of CT.

Ady Poole, General Manager of PACTO, guided the audience through PACTO’s journey to date – which began more than 20 years ago and has seen wide-reaching changes during that time – before returning later in the day to talk about the importance of partnerships in the CT sector and inviting organisations in the room to join the journey and help shape the future of CT.

Wyndham Williams, PACTO’s Transformation Project Manager, outlined the challenges and lessons learned throughout the course of the last three years of the Motability Foundation-funded project, as well as presenting the new system changes which have already been implemented, powerful data, insight and social value evidence, as well as highlighting the real impact CT makes for passengers and their communities.

Jo Hicks, one of PACTO’s three Transport Connectors, outlined what her role entails and how it helps members of the public, as well as sharing a selection of stories which highlighted just how much of a lifeline the service provides to predominantly passengers with mobility needs – the majority of whom require urgent transport from hospital.

Professor Charles Musselwhite, the Head of Psychology at Aberystwyth University and advisor to the Welsh Government’s Ministerial Forum on Ageing, gave a presentation which focused on Community Transport, Health and Connection, the importance of being mobile, data around how people travel in Wales and the vital role CT plays in connecting people.

Members of the Dream Team from Pembrokeshire People First (PPF), a member-led charity for adults with Learning Disabilities and/or Autism in Pembrokeshire, were given an opportunity to highlight the West Wales Learning Disability Strategy, before encouraging attendees to complete the consultation which will help to form part of their charter.

The conference concluded with attendees having the opportunity to watch the premiere of a short film titled ‘The Cost of Doing Nothing: Community Transport in Pembrokeshire’. The video was put together by Damian Golden, PACTO’s Accessible Vehicle Co-ordinator, and Tom Pritchard, PACTO’s Media Officer, and contrasts two possible futures: one where Community Transport continues to thrive through investment, collaboration and innovation, and another where support declines and vital services become increasingly unsustainable. The narration was provided by Year 6 pupils from Cosheston Church in Wales VC School, providing a stark reminder of what is at stake for future generations if CT is not delivered effectively.

The conference was more than just the launch of a new strategy, it was a call to action to work together to deliver a transport system that will meet the needs of passengers and communities across Pembrokeshire. PACTO are now appealing to organisations to come on board and help deliver the strategy to create a more connected, inclusive and sustainable CT system in Pembrokeshire, ensuring people with mobility needs and those from rural communities can access safe, reliable and affordable transport, which supports independence, wellbeing and participation in community life.