West Sussex Community Minibus: September trips

Your Door-to-Door Minibus Service

Founded in 1974 Community Minibus Association (West Sussex) is a registered charity that offers residents an affordable and friendly, door to door transport service for all age groups. Operating as West Sussex Minibus, they run a fleet of ten minibuses from eight Divisions across the county and are run entirely by volunteers. It is a welcoming, year-round service providing a great way to catch up with old friends and meet new ones.

West Sussex Minibus’ mission is to have a positive and meaningful impact on the community, keeping residents active, independent and socially connected.

From their Billingshurst Division, the whole of the RH14 9 postcode is served. Including Billingshurst, the minibus service area extends to The Haven, Coneyhurst and Adversane. In addition, Wisborough Green Division and Petworth Divison, which covers Kirdford, offer a separate, dedicated schedule of trips.

Membership comes with a year-round calendar of excursions, with morning and afternoon departures offered. Trips to Horsham, Chichester, Shoreham (Holmbush) and Bognor Regis are scheduled regularly, along with a variety of social outings. Excursions include scenic drives to the seaside towns of Eastbourne and Worthing, alongside lunch and afternoon tea trips. In addition, there are fun days out such as Mystery Drives and to popular attractions like Tangmere Airport Museum. For anyone needing a little extra help, assistance is on hand to support passengers getting on and off the minibus, as well as carrying shopping to their home. Individual Membership for the full year is just £8, plus a nominal per trip fare when travelling on one of their services. Day memberships are also available.

Not for Profit and Community Groups can also utilise the Associations’ minibuses to support their activities when joining as Affiliate Members. From youth or sports clubs to faith or hobby groups, all can register with West Sussex Minibus. Membership is £40 for a full year. Other memberships are available.

Billingshurst Schedule September 2022

Date Friday 2nd Monday 5th Time Trip Description 1.00pm Pulborough Garden Centre 11.00am Sea Lane Café at Goring by Sea

Tuesday 6th 9.00am Eastbourne

Wednesday 7th 10.00am Chichester Market Day

Friday 9th Monday 12th

1.00pm Houghton Bridge – Riverside Café 10.00am Lancing College Chapel & Shoreham Airport Tuesday 13th 10.00am Chichester & optional canal boat trip Wednesday 14th 1.00pm Old Barn Garden Centre for tea Friday 16th 9.30am Worthing & Haskins Tuesday 20th 10.00am Chichester Marina for Coffee. Optional Cathedral concert Wednesday 21st 1.00pm Squires Garden Centre Washington Friday 23rd 1.00pm English Martyrs Sistine Chapel. Talk and tea Wednesday 28th 9.30am Bognor Regis Friday 30th 11.00am Bosham Thursdays 1st, 15th & 29th 1.00pm Tesco Broadbridge Heath Thursdays 8th & 22nd 9.00am Horsham & Sainsbury’s

Make a Difference in your Community

Membership for individuals provides an annual calendar of excursions comprising a mix of shopping trips and social outings. Behind all activities is a welcoming and friendly team of volunteers who support members on every step of their journey. West Sussex Minibus likes to get to know all its members, actively fostering relationships, ensuring everyone feels supported and well cared for so that they can make the most of their membership.

As an all-volunteer organisation, the charity relies on people from the local community to help run services. Everyone who volunteers plays a pivotal role in enabling West Sussex Minibus to provide services to the local community of West Sussex. There are many different roles to choose from depending on skills and the time individuals wish to commit. It may be a few hours a week or a day a month; there is complete flexibility to fit with Volunteers existing responsibilities.

Each Division has a dedicated team of volunteers to support the running of its services. Choose a role that’s most suited to you and what fits best around your existing responsibilities. Roles include Minibus Drivers who safely drive members to their destination, Passenger Escorts who assist members whilst travelling on one of their services, Memberships Administrator to support payments and reconciliation, alongside Trips Planner to research destinations, venues and attractions for future trips. Everyone who joins plays an essential role and will experience first-hand what difference the service makes to members’ lives. If you are active and enjoy meeting people, then volunteering with West Sussex Minibus could be for you. You will be helping to assure the ongoing success of the charity and the services offered in your local community.

West Sussex Minibus, Billingshurst, Wisborough Green and Petworth Divisions are welcoming new Volunteers now, so do get in touch. Make a difference, get involved.

New Volunteers and Members are always welcome. For more information, please visit www.westsussexminibus.org.uk. To join, call 0300 772 7735 or (01403) 784428.