VOTE: Sammy buses facing battle to survive as charity fears funds crisis

Sammy Community Transport is going to have to fight for every pound it receives from local councils.

The switch from secured funding to tendering for services comes as pubic sector spending is being slashed to help cut the country's severe financial deficit.

Sammy manager Mike Collins said: "I am confident Sammy will survive but we are going to be put under a hell of a lot of pressure to look elsewhere for funding.

"I'm not concerned Sammy is going to disappear but if we don't get that funding we will be put in a very difficult situation.

"I am convinced we will get over the problems but it will take an awful struggle."

Mr Collins has already begun the time-consuming process of seeking alternative funding. He has contacted every local council in its catchment area of Bognor, Chichester and Selsey.

Many have replied they are unable to help. Some have said they should be able to provide grants from their available finances.

Sammy was started as a charity in 1970. Local businessman Samuel Jay left money to buy an accessible minibus to provide much-needed transport for people unable to use public transport.

The charity has since grown to comprise five wheelchair accessible minibuses and three mini-vans driven by volunteers. A further 26 volunteers also use their own vehicles.

Last year saw Sammy transport 21,707 elderly and disabled people. Their journeys are to hospital, GP, dentist or optician appointments. They can be as far afield as London.

Sammy's annual running costs are about 100,000. Some 29,000 of these come from grants.

West Sussex County Council provided 2,000 in the past year. Arun District Council handed over 10,000 as the final payment of a guaranteed three-year funding deal.

Mr Collins said: "Once the Arun deal runs out, we will be fighting with our funding with everyone else.

"The money we get from the county council is not substantial. We don't rely on it but it is still helpful."

Whitehall's intention in cutting down on the grants which councils are then able to hand out to groups such as Sammy is to ensure every pound is competitively earned.

Once an organisation has become accredited, it will be able to tender for transport services directly provided by councils.

Other organisations, such as bus companies, will also be invited to bid for the work.

"It could benefit us or it could be detrimental," Mr Collins said. "It means we have got to fight our quarter. We do not have the financial clout or the expertise of transport companies which are bigger than us.

"But in the meetings I have had with the district and county councils, I have felt they want to help us.

"They realise the knock-on effects in the communities we serve and the implications if we are not there to help people.

"Sammy has got such a large following in the community. Everyone knows us because we are such a part of the local area."

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