Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, Newton Abbot Community Transport Associations provided transport to enable less mobile or rurally isolated people to attend medical appointments or access essential shopping.

One of the drivers says: ‘We have been there almost every day and week over the past 12 months, face to face, hands on with people in wheelchairs, with mobility issues and the rest.

‘Despite Covid, we have been there to help them into the hospitals and doctors surgeries or whatever they need and carry shopping to their doors, delivering daily living aids to people all over the place.

‘We’ve driven students to schools on and off throughout the year, too.

‘We’ve put measures in place to keep volunteers, staff, passengers and Shopmobility users as safe as possible, with sanitising regimes, PPE, etc, and, thanks to a Devon County Council Covid-19 grant, have installed driver/passenger screens in our wheelchair friendly road vehicles.

‘This week, in line with the opening of non-essential shops, hairdressers, cafes, etc, we are observing social distancing in vehicles and carefully resuming our Ring and Ride shopper minibuses into Newton Abbot, covering Newton Abbot itself, plus areas such as Kingsteignton, Chudleigh, Bovey Tracey, Ipplepen, Ashburton and Buckfastleigh.

‘Our Shopmobility has continued to provide wheelchairs and scooters to allow people to get around at home or get out and about, helping to combat loneliness and social exclusion.

‘Our NHS/DCC approved supply and delivery of daily living aids, often on prescription, has helped keep people safe at home and aided prompt hospital discharge.’