Road Runner Autumn Programme 2024 Now Booking (PDF)
Have a look at our latest newsletter and book up for some outings. There is plenty on offer with some new destinations and all the old favourites.
Free bus services launching in Roehampton
Two new, free bus services will connect Roehampton to local amenities and transport hubs:
- Hop on the University of Roehampton bus at the designated bus stops
- Request door to door service from the new community minibus run by Roehampton Transport Club, operated by Wandsworth Community Transport
The university shuttle bus operates between Roehampton Vale Asda, Barnes Station, and Putney Bridge Station during term time only, and will be free for the public to board at designated TFL bus stops. The new Roehampton Transport Club minibus must be booked in advance and provides a door-to-door service around the borough to designated locations for those who find it difficult to use public transport.
From the announcement by Wandsworth Council:
Starting 23 September, two new Roehampton bus services are launching, as part of council efforts to improve transport links between Roehampton and the rest of the borough. This forms a key part of the Alton Renewal Plan which sets out how the council will invest in the estate, working together with residents to help this part of Wandsworth to thrive.
The Alton Renewal Plan, launched in July 2024, prioritises better transport connections, and is designed to improve accessibility for residents, workers, and visitors in Roehampton. The council’s pledge to enhance local transport options has led to the introduction of two new and free bus services for the public: one in partnership with the University of Roehampton, and another which extends the existing relationship with Wandsworth Community Transport.
Silver Day Trippers Autumn Programme 2024 Now Booking
A very warm welcome to the Summer/Autumn edition of the Silver Daytrippers’ newsletter. We hope you are looking forward to the final weeks of the summer and planning to make the most of the sunny days by booking one of our coastal trips. Due to popular demand, we are delighted to add Margate to our programme. Please book early for this one as new destinations are always popular!
See our latest news and book some trips!
Mad Hatters Tea Party 2024
Our Wandsworth Community Transport team were delighted to have been awarded a grant this week, from Age UK Wandsworth.
A huge thank you to Natalie de Silva, and all the team for choosing to support our very popular Mad Hatters Tea Party event!!
This amazing grant which comes through the Wandsworth Council Age Well Central Grant Fund, means the world to our Managing Director, Manuel Button, Chair of Board, Hicky Kingsbury and the whole staff team.
But we are most excited about how much it will mean to 70 local, older and vulnerable people in our Borough who will be able to enjoy our annual Mad Hatters Tea Party at the truly gorgeous Home Community Cafe.
We love this event, the highlight of our social year of activities that our dedicated team deliver.
Our venue, Home Community Café is a local CIC, delivering the very best in delicious, nutritious and affordable food, reinvesting every penny of profit for the best of our shared community.
We have very few spaces left for this very popular event which includes high tea, a free raffle and the opportunity to wear your favourite hat and join in a sing-a-long with our Wandsworth Community Transport Choir…
Don’t delay… once it’s sold out, that’s it for another year of this event as there will be no space for people without tickets on the big day…
Road Runner and Silver Day Trippers Programme
SILVER DAY TRIPPERS AND ROAD RUNNER PROGRAMMES – SPRING 2023
We have just published our latest set of outings for 2023 – book up quick as they always sell out like hot cakes!
Everyone is desperately keen to get out and about again now the nicer weather is here. So book up and have some nice days out this summer – I think we all need one!
PLEASE CALL US ON 020 8675 3812 TO BOOK.
Fundraising Appeal July 2020
We are currently fundraising for a commercial sanitising sprayer (as used by Transport for London) which will clean and disinfect the inside of our minibuses and Shopmobility between uses. It keeps surfaces virus free for up to 28 days! We will also offer it to other community groups that use minibuses within Wandsworth.
But it is costly and our target is £2,000 – see the following link to our virgin giving page and help with this very important piece of equipment.
Outings to Restart – July 2020 Latest Coronavirus News
Silver Daytrippers
LATE SUMMER PROGRAMME
We hope you have been keeping well over the past few months. It has certainly been a difficult time for all of us and we must hope for better times ahead.
As I am sure you know, we only managed to run one trip in the Spring/Summer programme, back on 16 March to Polhill Garden Centre. However, as restrictions have now eased we have decided to operate a “socially distant” late Summer programme to some seaside destinations.
The minibuses will operate with a maximum of 9 passengers on board and we will ask you to wear a face covering (unless you are medically exempt). The buses will be rigorously cleaned before the outing and the drivers will also clean the grab rails, handles and head rests whilst you are enjoying your fish and chips or strolling along the prom.
We will pick up passengers between 9am and 10.05am from the regular stops. Our timetable and programme are published on our website www.wctbus.org.uk.
Wednesday 22 July Eastbourne £12
Monday 10 August Worthing £12
Thursday 20 August Bexhill £12
Wednesday 26 August Hastings £12
Monday 7 September Southend £12
Wednesday 16 September Eastbourne £12
Thursday 24 September Rye £12
Please call us on 020 8675 3812 to book.
SHOPPING AND SHOPMOBILITY
We have restarted the Shopping Shuttle, but only for people who don’t need additional help. This is to ensure we can maintain adequate social distancing, so no volunteers, wheelchairs or waiting at Shopmobility. We have cut the shopping time to just over an hour, so it is straight back and on the minibus with no hanging around. The cost remains £2.50.
For those who just need a loan of Shopmobility equipment, ring in advance and wait outside. They will come out with your wheelchair/scooter and disinfect it before and after use.
Please call us on 020 8675 3812 to book.
HOME SHOPPING
For those who we can’t yet take to the shops, we are offering a home delivery service. You give your shopping list over the phone, we deliver it to you and you pay by cheque or bank transfer, plus £2.50 charge (the same as the usual shopping fare).
Please call us on 020 8675 3812 to book.
DIAL-A-RIDE
Meanwhile, Dial-a-Ride is still operating its usual service and has a huge amount of spare capacity. You can get a ride any time any place anywhere, so we recommend you join them if not already a member. They can be contacted on 0343 2227777.
WCT to start its own choir
As part of our battle against loneliness, we are starting a choir for our passengers, volunteers and staff.
Singing is really good for you, and getting out and meeting people is just what the doctor ordered.
The choir will meet at Shopmobility on a Thursday afternoon and a fun time is guaranteed – call Manuel for more details.
The pictures are from our 30th anniversary celebrations, where Rock Choir entertained us and had ’em singing in the aisles. We have obviously got some hidden talent out there!
Loneliness at the top of the agenda – Pub Lunch Specials
Everyone is suddenly going on about the dangers of loneliness and the negative impact on health, but we at WCT have been doing fantastic work getting people out and about, and making new friends with volunteers and fellow passengers for over 30 years. Our regular outings and shopping shuttle really hit the spot in this regard, and over two thirds of our passengers say we have helped them make new friends and enjoy new activities.
BUT, we know we can always do more, and are starting a special lunch club so that isolated single people can go out together to a nice pub in the country and have lunch with new friends.
Our first expedition will be to the lovely Anchor pub next to the canal at Wisley – it is going to be great!
Men Only Group
We all know how difficult it is to get men out and about and doing activities. We are having a special Men’s Group outing (a pub lunch, as you might have guessed) to canvass opinion and to see what we can do to get more men using our services. Please call Manuel on 020-8675 7460 if you are interested and please spread the word on our behalf.