Community Transport

The Borders Wheels Community Transport Service operates a number of wheelchair accessible vehicles, supported by volunteer drivers. Our service is available for individuals who need help with transport and non-profit making community / voluntary groups.

Please call your nearest office if you would like to find out more about using our services or being a volunteer driver – or download our leaflets for full information (see links at bottom of page).  The maximum capacity for each vehicle is reduced if you need to make space for a  wheelchair; the figures given below are for passenger seats without a wheelchair.

Gala Wheels – Central Borders Area

Margaret Aitken

galawheels@thebridge.scot
01896 755370

Three accessible vehicles based in Galashiels (two 6 seaters and an 11 seater).

Teviot Wheels – Cheviot / Teviot & Liddesdale

Jacqueline Chapman

teviotwheels@thebridge.scot
01835 863554

Three accessible vehicles based in Kelso, Jedburgh and Hawick (a 6 seater and
two 12 seater minibuses)

Tweed Wheels – Tweeddale Area

Brenda Vannan

tweedwheels@thebridge.scot
01721 723123

Two accessible vehicles based in Peebles (one 3 seater and a 14 seater minibus)

We are members of the Community Transport Association and work with fellow providers as part of Borders Community Transport Partnership

Who can drive the vehicles?

We have teams of volunteer drivers in each local area to help our clients to get where they need to go. All our volunteers are certified via the Minibus Driver Awareness Scheme (MiDAS) and PVG checked. Our smaller vehicles can also be driven by nominated private drivers (friend, relative etc), who must be aged between 25-70, have a clean driving licence and take a brief familiarisation test with the vehicle.

What does it cost?

We charge by the length of journey (per mile) for all vehicles..

Eligible individuals with special mobility needs can benefit from a subsidy per mile for certain journeys. This subsidy is provided by Scottish Borders Council under the Social Car Scheme and covers a maximum 80 miles per journey. Available for :

  • Health appointments
  • Attending activities eg lunch clubs
  • Shopping trips
  • Visits to family and friends
  • Travel to respite care

With the subsidy, journeys are charged at an affordable 40p per mile (65p per mile without the subsidy). There is a minimum charge of £5.00 and a flat rate surcharge of £1 per journey for additional passengers (carers travel free).

What does a Community Minibus cost?

Community groups wishing to hire our accessible minibuses must become members of Borders Wheels (membership is free). The charge to hire the minibus with a driver is 95p per mile (90p per mile when the group provides its own driver, who must have undergone MIDAS training). There is a minimum charge of £20 per journey.

Our community minibuses can be hired by non-profit groups for:

  • Outings
  • Attending events and activities

Funding

We are very grateful to Scottish Borders Council and other funders who enable us to operate the Community Transport Service. Together with local donations and funds raised via our Thrift Shops, these grants have supported us to run the services and purchase new vehicles.

Leaflets