About us….
Our aim is to combat loneliness and isolation
We’re a small charity supporting our communities in Broseley, Much Wenlock and surrounding areas, in Shropshire.
We provide community transport and other services to help people continue living independently and improve their quality of life. Click here to read more about all our services.
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Friendly Bus was formed by Broseley residents and its founder, Liz Mars in 2002. Recognising the lack of local transport options, they trialled Friendly Bus for a year before formally registering as ‘The Friendly Transport Service’, in May 2003.
It’s continued to grow ever since and we now have over 1000 people registered with us!
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In 2018 we were awarded the Queen’s Award in recognition of our outstanding community work and innovative ways of financing the support we provide for those who need us.
The Queen’s Award is the equivalent of an MBE for the voluntary sector.
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This means we only charge the minimum amount we need to cover our expenses. We’ve been operating for over 20 years - our members are in safe hands. Our registered charity number is 1131707.
We’re one of 8 regional groups that form the Shropshire Community Transport Consortium. Through this collaboration we’re able to make the best use of our resources and share best practices.
We’re also able to form partnerships, collectively examine transport issues and influence policies and legislation with greater lobbying strength.
We’re members of the Community Transport Association (CTA). They’re a charity representing and supporting UK providers of community transport. They provide specialist advice, guidance and lobbying for changes to public policy on our behalf.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, the CTA were invaluable in providing guidance to help us keep all our members safe. They also wrote an article on their blog about us and how we adapted our services to meet the evolving needs of our communities. You can read it here.
We also manage the Shifnal Shuttle in partnership with Shifnal Town Council. Click here for more information.
Shifnal Shuttle
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Our Management Committee
Our committee is made up of Trustees from the communities that we support. They oversee how the charity is run.
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Meet the office team!
Our office staff manage the daily operations of the charity and provide a support network for our volunteers.
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How we make a difference
Learn about the impact the Shropshire Community Transport Consortium have and The Friendly Bus, in their reports.