Community Group Drives into New Home

A community group which provides essential transport links to the people of Heywood is on the road to success after moving into a new home.

Heywood New Heart Community Transport has moved to a new state-of-the-art facility at Heywood Distribution Park after it outgrew its old premises at Independence House, Adelaide Street.

The group was started in 2003 with money from the New Deal for Communities (NDC) fund to provide transport links in isolated areas of Heywood – ensuring people have access to work, community events and health care services.

However the popularity of the not-for-profit organisation has seen group become self-funding – enabling it to undergo a major expansion project.

“Whilst we were funded by the NDC there were limits as to what we could do,” said Neil Foley, who is Managing Director of the group. “Since becoming a self-funded organisation we have been able to broaden our horizons.

“We have been able to continue providing our service to the people of Heywood whilst offering our services to people further afield. We have won contracts in Rochdale, and other parts of the North West which have helped us pay for the running of the group locally.”

Residents in Heywood who do not live on regular bus routes can book a time with the service to take them to work or to GP and hospital appointments. Schools also use the group to provide transport to swimming lessons and community activities.

Other community groups also benefit from affordable transport as the idea of the group is to provide a service, not make a profit.

After starting out with just three vehicles the group now operates nine mini-busses.
The group has worked with Rochdale Development Agency to identify suitable properties for its move.

The move to the new building will provide more garage and parking space along with better security.

The group will also be letting part of its office space to other local community groups – with Heywood Model Railway Group the first to take advantage of this generous offer.

Neil added: “Moving to this great new base has show how far we have come. It means we can provide a better service, and also serve the community in new ways by engaging more closely with groups which use our office space.”

Pat Rattigan, Director of Physical Regeneration at RDA, said the group was providing a key service for the area, ensuring that people in remote parts of Heywood were able to get to and from work.

“Heywood New Heart Community Transport is a fantastic success story,” he said. “It has removed a major obstacle for people looking for employment in the area. We often refer companies to the service to ensure that they can employ people in the local community.

“The way local people have supported the scheme shows the magnificent community spirit that we have in the area. We were delighted to be involved in helping the group secure a new premises and ensuring it can continue its progress.”