wmsnt's Accessible Transport Services continue to expand.

Whilst wmsnt's main aim is to help individual people with limited mobility maintain their independence through its Ring and Ride service, the success of its Accessible Transport Services in both education, health and social care continues to expand.

Des Rogers, wmsnt's Operations Manager explained: “As a charity with a long history of providing transport for people with limited mobility we are able to offer our experience, resources and appropriately trained staff to ensure that our customers needs are met efficiently. The 'Birmingham model' for providing home to school transport to schools for children with special educational needs has proved to be a continuing success, and from April 2010, includes four schools in the Birmingham area where wmsnt plans and organises all their transport requirements".

Carrying on from this success, wmsnt has also been contracted to supply a greater number of individual routes for other schools in Birmingham and other boroughs in the West Midlands. Its Accessible Transport Services is now operating 176 'Home to School' buses per school day. In addition to helping children with disabilities get to school each day, wmsnt also provides accessible transport for 0 to 5 year old children with a range of disabilities to attend four Child and Family Centres also in the Birmingham area. The aim of the centres is to put together a child's future care and development plan.

A further service that we are continuing to provide is door to door transport for people to go to designated NHS Podiatry clinics. This is achieved by using 'Home to School' buses and drivers between dropping off children at school and before going back to take them home again. This is allowing better use of NHS resources and ensures that more people can be treated by each Centre's trained staff, than would be the case if the Clinicians had to travel to individual home addresses.

Travel beyond the West Midlands.

wmsnt Accessible Transport Services can provide transport to destinations outside the area covered by Ring and Ride. This is a chargeable operation that can be booked by Ring and Ride passengers (and associated organisations) during School Holidays, at weekends and if resources are available during term time.

Bookings can be made through the Accessible Transport Services Central Control at Runcorn Road (0121 446 6172).

Further information can be obtained by calling that number (or any Ring and Ride Depot).