Community transport is backed again

Sammy Community Transport will get a same-again £6,430 from Arun District Council next year.

This continues the level of support the organisation has received in the current 12 months.

Mike Collins, Sammy’s manager, said: “I am pleased with the decision and it’s good to know Arun can still find the money to help us out. I hope that will continue. The money will help but there is a lot more councils can do to keep us viable.

“We are improving things markedly to increase our contribution to what is going on in the community but we can only do that with the help of councils. It’s not financial matters. It’s logistics as well, such as having somewhere permanent to park our vehicles.”

Arun’s current grant was among some £100,000 which Sammy received from trusts and councils.

It made 9,144 journeys in the year to last March 31 and transported 19,623 passengers.

The approval of its latest grant was given by Arun’s cabinet on Monday. It was one of three community organisations which will continue to benefit from the support of the council.

Council leader Gillian Brown said: “These are very worthy recipients of funding and they make a big difference to peoples’ lives.”

Robin Wickham, Arun’s voluntary service and leisure manager, said: “These organisations provide a valuable community service and have done so for a number of years.”

The others which will again receive grants are the West Sussex Mediation Service and Arun Co-ordinated Community Transport.