A community transport group will soon be able to offer improved support to passengers with emotional problems.

Beccles and Bungay Area Community Transport (BACT) offers a wide range of services to allow people – including pensioners, adults with learning difficulties, those with impaired mobility and the rurally isolated – to carry out important tasks such as attend medical appointments, pay bills, go shopping and to visit family and friends.

The organisation has now been awarded £708 by Suffolk Community Transport – an umbrella group which campaigns for and supports the county’s individual community transport operators – to fund a training project for its volunteers in emotional support. The organisation makes an average 2,800 trips per month, helping many local people to avoid isolation.

Graham Kerridge, a trainer for BACT, said: “We are really grateful to Suffolk Community Transport for granting us this money. We have been keen to support our volunteer drivers with additional training for a long time now and we know that this course will really help them to support our most vulnerable passengers to an even higher standard than they already do. This three hour workshop explores common reactions when people are faced with a personal crisis, how we as drivers can interact with them and offer support when needed.”

To find out more about becoming a volunteer driver call Debbie Blowers on 01986 896896 or email bact@btconnect.com