Rachel Reeves joins celebrations with First Bus and Bramley Elderly Action

Leeds West and Pudsey MP, Rachel Reeves joined celebrations at the First Bus depot in Bramley as the operator welcomed Bramley Elderly Action (BEA) and members to mark the tenth anniversary of a partnership supporting the community charity.

For the past decade, First Bus has supplied £70,000 of fuel and maintenance for BEA’s minibus fleet, which is essential for helping users to enjoy its regular clubs and special trips across West Yorkshire.

It is estimated that the partnership has enabled more than 3,250 journeys at low-cost and covered 50,000 miles, ensuring greater participation by users and allowing BEA to concentrate more of its finances on supporting events and expand its activities.  

Home pick-ups now possible

Lee Ingham, Chief Executive Officer of the charity, said: “We are now able to offer transport for two men's groups at different venues on the same day. This has been vital for targeting men, who are harder to engage and reach, and allowed us to take the groups out for trips and pub lunches. 

“Also, when we arrange our bigger seaside trips to Bridlington and Whitby, we are able to offer home pick-ups for those members that need our support in getting them to the coach. Again, this is down to the support from First Bus.”

The Chancellor also met First Bus UK Managing Director, Janette Bell, engineering and driver apprentices.

Rachel Reeves said: "I was delighted to join First Bus and Bramley Elderly Action in celebrating their 10 year partnership. It has been wonderful to see a business like First Bus taking an active role in supporting the community and reducing loneliness and social isolation amongst older people in my constituency. I really enjoyed meeting some of the older people who have benefitted from this initiative and hearing their stories. "

Bramley Elderly Action has been able to branch out, using its minibuses to transport people to other community lunch clubs that it doesn’t run which opens up a bigger community network for members. 

Transport for members with mobility and long-term health problems

“The support of First Bus has enabled us to continue providing transport for our members which is vital to our older users who have problems with mobility, confidence and long term health conditions,” added Lee Ingham.

““Volunteer drivers and ‘bus buddies’ have enabled the charity to focus on members who have been struggling to get out and to offer them a lifeline.

 “Our organisation really appreciates the support and generosity that First Bus has provided to our services over the last 10 years which has helped build and support our older community and reduce social isolation.”

Picture captions:

First Bus Bramley_1: Rachel Reeves chats with driver Nick before a bus trip with Janette Bell and Brandon Jones of First Bus.

First Bus Bramley_2: Rachel Reeves meets engineering apprentices at the depot.

First Bus Bramley_3: Rachel Reeves helps mark the celebrations with Janette Bell, Lee Ingham (left) and Simon Price of BEA, Mubs Mahmed, Community and Social Value Partner, Gail from the depot training team and Head of Engineering, Craig Brown.

First Bus Bramley_4:  Rachel Reeves celebrates the 10-year partnership with members of the Men’s Club at BEA, Lee Ingham (third left), Janette Bell (far right) and the First Bus team.

First Bus Bramley_5:  Rachel Reeves chats with Janette Bell on a bus trip to the depot.

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