Community Transport Staff & Volunteer Newsletter Sept 2021

SEPTEMBER 2021 STAFF & VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER

WHAT’S INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

COMMUNITY TRANSPORT

NEWS

STAFF SURVEY

Summer Event

RESULTS

NEW Stores Opening

Hopefully you have seen the initial results of the recent staff survey that were circulated in early August 2021.

NEW Branding Kickstart Scheme And, Lots More...

Welcome to the latest edition of the staff & volunteer newsletter.

A report on the findings of the survey, what has already been put in place or is underway will be issued shortly.

We were grateful to those who submitted a response but would always welcome more feedback and comments, as that is how we learn and move forward as an organisation. That said, overall responses were very encouraging, with 87% of the people who responded offering a positive response to the questions asked about a whole range of elements of working for CT. The majority of individual comments were around vehicles, staff numbers, time for breaks, pay, processes and safety. The full report comments on all of these areas and hopefully you will have already seen some of the changes made with the arrival of new vehicles and a significant pay rise in April applied to operational roles across CT. The new livery which will feature on our new vehicles is shown on page 5.

Please do look out for the full report, which will also be provided to our Trustees at their next meeting, and if you want to have your say before the next survey, please use the feedback boxes available at all sites, speak with your line manager or you can call me directly on 07912 388185.

Jo Beaumont Chief Executive, Community Transport

Helping create a better everyday life for local people since 1964.

CT COMMITS TO REAL LIVING WAGE Community Transport are now a Real Living Wage Employer, paying all staff at least a basic rate of £9.55. This exceeds the latest statutory minimum wage level of £8.91 for over 23’s, introduced in April 2021.

We have always valued our staff and the work that they do to support the Charity. The past year has been no exception, with the workforce going above and beyond their duties in unprecedented times to support their local communities. We are hugely grateful to our staff for the part that they have played and feel that the pay increase is well deserved, as they have enabled services to continue for the most vulnerable and needy in society.

The very fact that we have been in a strong enough financial position to offer this pay increase across the whole Charity is in no small part thanks to our employees and volunteers, and the role they have played in keeping the organisation robust and effective in delivering much needed services.

Throughout the pandemic, we have continued to deliver vital services. This includes transporting the most vulnerable children and adults to school and essential health appointments, delivering essential items of food shopping when people have been shielding, and providing items of furniture and homing packs to assist in getting homeless people off the streets and into housing. It is through the sheer effort and hard work of all the CT team that we, as a charity, have continued to thrive and expand during the year 2020/21.

Liz Sutton, Operations Director South

VOLUNTEER EVENT

The team in the West Midlands attended a volunteering day set up by WVSC (Wolverhampton Voluntary Sector Council) in August.

The event was held at the Mander centre in Wolverhampton and was aimed at local groups and charities, to help them promote their services and to gain new volunteers.

John Brettle, Sue Cozens and myself attended.

There we another 10 local organisations present, who each were able to hand out leaflets and information to potential volunteers.

Nick Tomlinson, Retail Operations Manager

John Brettle, supervisor CT Furniture West Bromwich & Sue Cozens, Passenger Services Manager.

STAFF & VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER - issue: September 2021 Helping create a better everyday life for local people since 1964.

PETERLEE RELOCATES TO NEW STORE Our CT Furniture Peterlee store has moved.

We opened a store in Peterlee last year, but the lease expired and so we took it as the right time to relocate to a bigger and better site.

Previously based at Howletch Retail Park this new store is now based on the Castle Dene Shopping Centre and will create numerous new volunteer opportunities and work placements, as well as the chance for us to restock with new furniture items.

The new store opened it doors on Friday 13th August and is the fourth CT Furniture based in the North East, with others based in Newcastle, Blyth and our other new store in Gateshead.

LOOKING

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE! We’ve asked in previous newsletters for both staff & volunteers to share thoughts on any small advantages and positives (or amusing negatives) that wouldn’t have happened if COVID hadn’t come around?

Things like: growing your own vegetables, learning new skills, updating your house or garden, cutting down on the commute, playing new board games, using new technology (zoom quizzes), remote dining with family, bonding with the neighbours, finding a new walk, etc - this list goes on. Here’s a contribution from Jo Beaumont.

“People have become kinder overall and without Covid not sure that this would have been quite as marked. We have learned that it is OK not to work as we traditionally have in the UK for centuries, but to consider work more as a proportion of our lives that can fit more flexibly with other commitments. We have also been stirred into positive action more - for example, in responding to the call to action

by Captain Tom and his fundraising efforts for NHS charities.”

Jo Beaumont Chief Executive, Community Transport

Please share with me your ‘Global-Pandemic-Positives’ with a photo, if you have one and I will feature them (space permitting) in the next newsletter. I can be reached on: heather.thompson@communitytransport.org or call me on: 07423 659455 and I’ll take the details down over the phone. I look forward to hearing from you.

www.communitytransport.org

STAFF - NEW STARTERS, ANNIVERSARIES & BENEFITS

NEW STARTERS:

Here are our new members of staff, who’ve joined us since the last newsletter: Shaun Messer Peter Shears

Robert Ferguson Gary Walker Lynn Quigley Mervyn Lawrence Emily Boardman Alison Randles Marion Stacey Colin Carrington Emma Rosslee Connor Bacciocchi Kevin Watson Zoe Corr Abbey Neal Anthony Tipping Catherine Craig Dean Wright

Jordan Cross

Helena Gouveia Cheryl Nicholson Jordan Smart Erik Balog Jake Cartwright Stephanie Hart Daniel Jones

Passenger Casual Minibus Driver - Wolverhampton TTO Passenger Minibus Driver - Newcastle Online Furniture Sales Coordinator - Wolverhampton Furniture Van Driver - Wolverhampton TTO Passenger Assistant - Newcastle Passenger Minibus Driver - Coventry Finance Officer - National Office Governance Assistant & PA - National Office Casual Passenger Minibus Driver - Coventry Casual Passenger Minibus Driver - Wolverhampton Volunteer Furniture Retail Assistant - Newcastle Trainee Online Furniture Sales Assistant - West Bromwich (KS) Furniture Van Driver - Blyth Casual Passenger Minibus Driver - Newcastle Volunteer Furniture Retail Assistant - Blyth Volunteer Furniture Van Driver - Newcastle Furniture Retail Assistant - Gateshead Furniture Retail Assistant - Blyth Trainee Furniture Sales Assistant - West Bromwich (KS) Volunteer Furniture Admin Assistant - Wolverhampton Furniture Services - Gateshead Trainee Furniture Van Drivers Assistant - Newcastle (KS) Trainee Furniture Van Drivers Assistant - Newcastle (KS) Furniture Services - West Bromwich Trainee Furniture Sales Assistant - West Bromwich Trainee Administration Assistant - National Office (KS) TTO - Term Time Only, KS - Kickstart Scheme.

WORK ANNIVERSARIES:

Here are the staff anniversaries for those with over 6 years of service:

STAFF:

YEARS: 15 8 8

Patrick Molloy Neil Bellerby Shaun Loakes

Passenger Minibus Driver - Wolverhampton Operations Director North - Newcastle Passenger Services Manager - Coventry

START DATE: 10.07.2006 15.07.2013 25.07.2013

STAFF & VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER - issue: September 2021 Helping create a better everyday life for local people since 1964.

We’ve been working on new designs for pop-up banners which focus on our CT Passenger group travel service and our need to recruit more volunteers.

These have already been organised in the West Midlands and are on display in the shops.

NEW

BRANDING pop-up banners & van decals

We are also expecting a delivery of some new CT Passenger minibuses from September onwards and a new design for the decals has already been agreed.

Look out for this new design, which is also to feature on our collection lorries.

www.communitytransport.org

NATIONAL OFFICE MOVE The team at National office have been clearing desks and packing boxes, in preparation for an office move.

The National office is situated within an old mill building, in Brighouse. The current suite of offices is no longer large enough, so they are moving one flight of steps down to floor 1, from the 2nd floor.

The new open plan offices will give staff more work space to work and include larger meeting and breakout rooms.

GORGEOUS

NEW ADDITION

Beccy Beecham, the Finance Manager at our National office welcomed a beautiful baby girl to her family earlier in the year.

Etta was born on the 16th June at 6.52am weighing 7lb 8oz.

Hello little girl!

CELEBRATING THEIR SPECIAL DAY

Our Kayley Peterson (nee Newsome) Corporate Services Administrator at National office finally celebrated her wedding.

“9 years together, 2 children, 2 wedding cancellations and a registry office marriage we finally had our big day on our 6th year engagement anniversary on 31st July. We had a celebrant with old traditions such as ring blessing and handfasting (the tying of hands with a ceremonial rope) but with a modern twist, in which Franklin our eldest son got involved to tie us together.

We had an amazing day and was definitely needed by all after the year everyone has had. Covid was not invited and you would never of thought it existed.”

Congratulations to Kayley and husband Tom. STAFF & VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER - issue: September 2021 Helping create a better everyday life for local people since 1964.

AWARENESS DAYS Over the next few months we will celebrate and showcase some Awareness Days that are close to our hearts, including: Mental Health Awareness Day and Recycle Week.

We’ll continue to send out reminders and posts on social media.

September:

Oddfellows Awareness Month World Alzheimer’s Month Organic September Blood Cancer Awareness Month Vascular Disease Awareness Month Walk Together for Bowel Cancer Month Stand Up For Food Month Toothache Day - 2 September Every Woman Day - 3 September National Fish and Chip Day - 4 September National Read a Book Day - 6 September Migraine Awareness Week - 6 to 11 September Zero Waste Week - 7 to 10 September Blood Pressure Week - 7 to 12 September Rheumatoid Arthritis Week - 7 to 12 September Organ Donation Week - 7 to 12 September Mental Health Awareness Day - 7 September World Suicide Prevention Day - 10 September National Hot Cross Buns Day - 11 September Jeans for Genes Week - 14 to 19 September National Hygiene Week - 14 to 19 September International Talk Like a Pirate Day - 19 September Recycle Week - 20 to 26 September International Day of Peace - 21 September World Alzheimer’s Day - 21 September National Eye Health Week 21 to 26 September Macmillan Biggest Coffee Morning - 25 September Healthy Eating Week - 28 September to 3 October #HiddenHeroesDay - 29 September

CHECK OUT THE COMPETITION - PAGE 14 WIN £50 HIGH STREET VOUCHERS! To tie in with Recyle Week, we’re running a competition for you to share with us your best recyling or upcycling tips.

October:

Black History Month Breast Cancer Awareness Month Go Sober for October National Cholesterol Month Lupus Awareness Month Byte Night - 4 October No Disposable Cup Day - 4 October National Braille Week - 5 to 10 October National Badger Day - 6 October Back Care Awareness Week - 7 to 10 October National Arthritis Week - 7 to 12 October National Curry Week - 7 to 12 October National Clean Air Day - 8 October National Coming Out Day - 11 October National Work Life Week - 12 to 15 October National No Bra Day - 13 October Chocolate Week - 14 to 19 October National Adoption Week - 14 to 19 October National Baking Week - 14 to 19 October Global Handwashing Day - 15 October Anti-Slavery Day - 18 October Wear it Pink Day - 23 October Halloween All Hallows’ Eve All Saint’s Eve - 31 October

November:

Veg Pledge Month Mouth Cancer Action Month Movember, Men’s Health Awareness Month Lung Cancer Awareness Month Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month World Vegan Day - 1 November National COPD Awareness Month National Sandwich Day - 3 November Bonfire Night - 5 November National Stress Awareness Day - 6 November National Stout Day - 7 November Social Media Kindness Day - 9 November Alcohol Awareness Week - 11 to 16 November Anti-Bullying Week - 11 to 14 November World Diabetes Day - 14 November Road Safety Week - 16 to 21 November National HIV Testing Week - 16 to 23 November World Toilet Day - 19 November International Men’s Day - 19 November Action Against Domestic Violence - 25 Nov to 9 December White Ribbon Day - 25 November Carers Rights Day - 26 November St Andrews Day - 30 November

www.communitytransport.org

SUMMER EVENT So, we had our first (for a number of years anyway) annual event for staff and volunteers in the Midlands on Sunday 1st August, and it was a great success!

The weather was kind to us. After the threat of rain in the morning and, in fact, the sun shone for the rest of the day. It was a great time for staff, volunteers and their families to come together outside of work, in a relaxed environment, and spend some time chatting and getting to know each other.

It was lovely to meet the families of our colleagues, and to see our staff in their ‘civvies’ for the day.

There was lots of food, a sizzling BBQ, refreshing ice cream, and lots and lots of raffle prizes, generously donated by D J Willis, Officlean, J Connor Signs, Ian Smiths, Stanford Coachworks, and our own Head Office.

Anil Heer, our resident DJ and Vehicle Valeter in the Midlands, provided the tunes, and made the day go with a bang!

It was such a success, that we are already planning for bigger and better next year.

Thanks to all those who attended, who made the day even greater.

Liz Sutton, Operations Director South

“It was lovely to meet the families of our colleagues, and to see our staff in their ‘civvies’ for the day.”

STAFF & VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER - issue: September 2021 Helping create a better everyday life for local people since 1964.

Some of our lovely staff enjoying the celebrations.

Anil Heer, the resident DJ for the day, getting a bit of help from Mark Simpson.

Nick Tomlinson and Mervyn Lawrence with the chocolate raffle prize.

“Just wanted to say a huge thank you for organising a fantastic event for the CT staff of the West Midlands.

It was a pleasure to be able to meet with CT colleagues, get to know more about them, hear their stories, and engage in what really stands out for CT - Community!

Not only was it a welcome escape from the past 16 months of the pandemic and actually being able to see each other in person, it was a memorable occasion to thank everyone for their hard work, commitment, and support during COVID.” Adam Layland, Trustee of Community Transport.

Adam, Jo and Liz enjoying the day.

www.communitytransport.org

NEW FACE AT NATIONAL OFFICE I started with CT on 17th June 2021 as Finance Officer, I previously worked for an IT company as an Accounts Manager with 15 men and 1 woman - completely different from CT with all the girlies and 1 man!

I have worked in an accounts role for the last 25 years, I am AAT qualified and have a Diploma in Credit Management.

I live 1.5 miles away from the head office in Brighouse with my husband, daughter and 2 cats.

With the pandemic and working restrictions things have been a little strange starting with CT. But I have hit the ground running and just got stuck in to help Tammy catch-up and I am loving it!

Emily Boardman, Finance Officer

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Emily a new member in the Finance team.

Anne Yates, one of our volunteers in the West Midlands, celebrated her 70th birthday in August.

The staff at the Northfield store made a bit of a fuss of Anne, who has been with CT Furniture since April 2021.

Our valued volunteer comes into the store three days a week. Working on the shop floor talking and helping customers and pricing items on the shop floor.

Anne lives locally in Frankley, which is just up the road from the store. She said when asked, “I love working here. The team are great and make me feel really special, I feel like I’ve been here years!”

She continued: “I felt quite overwhelmed with the fuss they made of me for my birthday, the balloon and the plant were just lovely.”

Anne celebrating with the team at Northfield. Happy BIrthday!

Her birthday was made even better when she was presented with a tin of Quality Streets by a regular customer of the store!

STAFF & VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER - issue: September 2021 Helping create a better everyday life for local people since 1964.

NEW GATESHEAD SUPERSTORE Our new superstore is open in Gateshead, this is the largest CT Furniture store to date and means that we can now boast to supply the largest range of quality pre-owned furniture in the North East.

Based in the Blaydon Shopping Centre, Gateshead, our biggest store to-date opened its doors on Friday 2nd July and was welcomed to the town with huge queues of expectant customers waiting patiently outside, eager to grab a bargain.

The official opening ceremony and ‘cutting the ribbon’ was overseen by Community Transport, chief executive Jo Beaumont and Susan Reilly, one of CT Furniture’s valued volunteers.

This is our fourth North East retail development, with furniture branches in Newcastle, Blyth and our new store in Peterlee.

Paul Dodd, CT Furniture’s Retail and Business Development Manager said: “We were absolutely delighted to see this many customers waiting for us to open. Sales on the opening day were really strong and I see a positive future for the store.”

Jo Beaumont, explaining to waiting customers about how our charity helps in local communities.

The official opening ceremony was overseen by Jo Beaumont & Susan Reilly, one of CT’s valued volunteers.

A busy opening day.

Volunteers Barry Herbert & Paddy Reilly handing out bacon sandwiches to customers waiting patiently for the new store to open.

www.communitytransport.org

NEW DRIVER AT COVENTRY I joined CT Passenger Coventry as a driver in July 2021. My duties include collecting and delivering patients to and from home to hospital. I find this a really satisfying role dealing with patients of varying age groups, some with mobility issues.

I work within a team of colleagues with Operations Manager Shaun Loakes at the helm. But also, we have the support of West Midlands Ambulance Service and their medical teams.

I’ve had a varied career, with my first job as an Redcoat entertainer at a Butlins holiday camp working up to the position of entertainment manager.

Then the following 40 years I worked driving commercial and passenger covering the UK and Europe. Along with running my own coach operations with my late wife Kerry.

At the tender age of 60, by choice I took a big change and went to Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council working with their CCTVs.

Mervyn our new driver at CT Passenger Coventry

Needing something more satisfying, I joined CT Passenger.

My hobbies include visiting classic transport shows, car boots & mooching around antique shops. I am a volunteer at Nuneaton Hospital Radio working as an outside broadcast manager, where we do live road shows and public events, raising money for a number of charities.

Mervyn Lawrence, CT Passenger West Midlands

These comments are from cards received back from Wolverhampton passenger services.

It’s really important that we continue to collect feedback from our customers and passengers.

‘

Here’s what our passengers say about us:

‘

I don’t know what I would do without this bus. It is so reliable.

Drivers are very friendly & helpful they have given me confidence when I have been frightened to go out due to Covid 19. They seem to understand us, how we feel, I give them 10 out of 10, especially Alan.

I only go out once a week & and Alan and Ali are great, very helpful with helping carry shopping into home always on time always a smile on their face.

Making a difference in the local community.

Making a difference in the local community.

‘

FEEDBACK!

Here’s what our passengers say about us:

STAFF & VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER - issue: September 2021 Helping create a better everyday life for local people since 1964.

‘

PASSENGER

NEW FACE AT NATIONAL OFFICE I am the new Governance Assistant and PA for Jo Beaumont in Brighouse and have been working at CT since 28th June 2021.

I live in Huddersfield with my fiancé Will and my dog Skye and a fun fact about me is that I play the trumpet, drums and percussion and I have a Music degree!

My previous jobs have mainly been within Administration in various sectors such as Insurance and Banking, however my previous role was a Receptionist/Administrator at a Doctors Surgery. As you can imagine this was a very interesting and challenging role but unfortunately, I still don’t know the secret to getting to see a Doctor for a face-to-face appointment!

Being a Governance Assistant and PA is a new role for me, but I am excited for the challenges ahead and I have loved every moment working at CT so far. I have been made to feel so welcome by everyone in the organisation and I very much look forward to the future at CT and hopefully progressing within my career.

Alison Randles - Governance Assistant & Personal Assistant

COMMONWEALTH GAMES BIRMINGHAM 2022

The team in the West Midlands are working closely with a furniture supplier to the Commonwealth Games. This will be one of the largest UK sporting events since the 2012 Olympics and will take place in Birmingham in July and August 2022.

They are looking at a proposal of unwanted furniture from the athletes village being donated to CT, after the Games have finished.

Watch this space for more details!

CT is delighted to be offering job placements through the Government’s Kickstart Scheme. Specially designed for people aged 16-24 years old and claiming Universal Credit, the roles are 25 hrs per week for six-months and are paid at national minimum wage for the age group.

We have so far recruitment 13 of the 20 placements across the West Midlands, the North East and in National Office.

The trainee roles include Administration Assistants, Online Sales Assistants, Retail Assistants and Van Drivers’ Assistants.

We aim to provide a combination of job specific skills and soft skills to enable the individuals to progress towards or enter into longer-term employment. We will particularly focus on teamworking, communication skills, being reliable and dependable, negotiation and influencing skills with the trainees.

www.communitytransport.org

COMPETITION - RECYCLE IDEAS! To tie in with Recyle Week, which takes place in the UK on the 20th to 26th September, the competition in this newsletter is for you to share with us your best recyling or upcycling tips.

So, whether that’s making plant pots out of food tins, shredding old newspapers for use as animal bedding, using an empty plastic bottle in the garden to help catch slugs or upcycling an old pallet into a gardening ornament - we want to know!

You can share a photo or just describe it to us - every entry will be added into a draw.

Send your entry by post or email together with your name and phone number by: Monday 22nd November 2021 and one winning entry will will receive £50 of High Street Vouchers.

Email: heather.thompson@ communitytransport.org or send to: Community Transport, Parkview House, Woodvale Road, Brighouse, West Yorkshire, HD6 4AB. Entries must be received before 12.00 noon on Monday 22nd November 2021 to be included.

SUMMER QUIZ - ANSWERS Here are the anwers for the last newsletters Summer quiz.

Which British seaside attraction is 158 metres tall? Blackpool tower.

At 1.34 miles, where is the longest pleasure pier in the UK? Southend.

Which group had a Top 10 hit with ‘Summer Sunshine’ in 2004? The Corrs.

What was the name of the ITV holiday show fronted by Judith Chalmers which ran from 1994 to 2003? Wish you were here.

5. When does summer officially start? 21st June.

6. The month of July is named after which famous historical person? Julius Ceaser.

7. Which month are most babies born in Britain in Summer? September.

8. Can you give the first line of Grease’s ‘Summer Nights’ lyrics? Summer loving had me a blast.

9. What term is often given to a period of dry hot weather that occurs in the autumn? Indian Summer.

10. What was the first name of Cleggy in the sitcom Last of the Summer Wine? Norman.

11. ‘In the Summertime’ was a debut single and big hit for which British rock band? Mungo Jerry.

12. What vitamin can you get from direct sunlight? Vitamin D. 13. In which two months are the summer Olympics held? July and August.

14. What does SPF stand for? Sun Protection Factor.

15. The Costa del Sol is a region of which country? Spain.

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STAFF & VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER - issue: September 2021 Helping create a better everyday life for local people since 1964.

DAVE HAD A LITTLE LAMB...

Dave Wakefield, CT Passenger North East shares a woolly tale that happened, while out on a run in June this year...

I was on a Group travel run that we operate every week for Philip Cussins House, a care home in Gosforth, Newcastle.

Regular 6 passengers and two carers. On the way back we paid a visit to Derwent Reservoir, (nice coffee) in County Durham.

The approach road is off the B6278. At the turn in for the Dam carpark, there is an immediate cattle grid. Another motorist was trying to shepherd (pardon the pun) a young lamb across the cattle grid. I was told afterwards by this chap that he had already got the lamb out of a ditch at the side of the road, and was trying to get it across the grid to keep it off the road.

Anyway as I was turning in, we saw him - the chap, not the lamb - slip and fall onto the cattle grid. I pulled to the side of the road and went to see what I could do to help.

Caution

Sheep may fall over and cause chaos!

Meanwhile, the lambs front legs and head had dropped out of sight. I think it had decided that as it could no longer see us, then we couldn’t see it, so it stopped struggling.

It did look comical, as all we could see was its behind sticking up above the cattle grid.

I grabbed the scruff of its neck and pushed a hand down its side and under it’s belly. As I lifted it out it kicked a little and said ‘Baaa-aaaa.’, which I think translates as ‘How dare you!’ Or something like that.

I released it into a field that had lots of other lambs with similar blue patches on their backs, and it scampered off to tell everybody about its narrow escape.

The other helpful human however, had a 10p sized wound in his forearm. I took him to the bus and sorted him out with a plaster from the first-aid kit. I did offer to dress it but he just wanted to get back to his car.

Unfortunately, neither of the carers thought to get their phones out and capture the goings on for posterity.

“...as I lifted it out, it kicked a little and said ‘Baaa-aaaa’, which I think translates as ‘How dare you!’

www.communitytransport.org

WEBSITE STATISTICS Our website traffic has continued to do well since our last newsletter.

The figures for period 1st June through 31st August showed 117,965 Unique Page Views. We had 34,532 Sessions (visitors to the site), of these 33,079 were New Users - this is really positive.

14.03% of our Page View Traffic landed on our Home page, 22,540, visitors. With 13.9%, 21,024 visitors landing on our: /donate-furniture page.

We continue to work on implementing new changes to the online shop and website to improve the user experience and increase our visibility.

CHANGING EMAIL

SIGNATURE

You may have seen the recent email requesting that you change your Community Transport email signature, to remove the reference to Floor 2 within the national office address. This is easy to do, and if you haven’t already sorted, please amend as soon as possible.

Instructions to change signature: Edit signature within Outlook. Click File, Click Options, Select Mail, Click Signatures, Make the changes below and Click SAVE. There are 2 places to amend in the small print under coloured line. Delete both the 2 references to Floor 2, leaving just Parkview House. Don’t forget to press SAVE. If you need any help, please contact me by email at: heather.thompson@communitytransport.org and I’ll talk it through with you.

BILSTON WAREHOUSE UPDATE Our Bilston warehouse is having an update, to try and encourage new customers and to make it more inviting for the general public.

A number of new initiatives are being put in place, including: increased advertising in the local area; working closer with the organisation Bilston BID – an initiative to publicise opportunities in the local area; increased use of social media by the team and upgrades to the internal and external signage and entrance.

STAFF & VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER - issue: September 2021 Helping create a better everyday life for local people since 1964.