30th July 2026
Community groups and organisations across the Highlands are being invited to apply for funding through The Highland Council's Community Transport Grant Scheme.
The scheme supports community-led transport services that help people access healthcare, employment, education, shopping and social activities. Across the Highlands, community transport plays a vital role in reducing isolation, supporting independence and ensuring residents can reach the services and opportunities that matter most.
Chair of The Highland Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee, Councillor Ken Gowans, said: "Community transport is about much more than getting from A to B. It connects people to opportunities, reduces social isolation and helps ensure that residents can access the services they need to lead full and independent lives.
“We are fortunate to have dedicated community transport organisations working across Highland, often responding creatively to local challenges and needs. This funding recognises the essential role they play, and I would encourage all eligible groups to submit an application and help us continue investing in these important community connections."
The funding supports community-led transport solutions that respond to local needs and strengthen community connections. These flexible and innovative services complement existing public transport provision and help address gaps in accessibility, particularly – though not exclusively – in rural and remote areas.
The Highland Council currently supports 29 community transport organisations through the grant scheme, reflecting the diversity of approaches used to meet local transport needs across Highland. These organisations provide a wide range of services, from community car schemes and volunteer driver networks to accessible scheduled and demand-responsive services operated under Section 19 and Section 22 permits, helping residents access essential services and participate fully in community life.
Peter Fenton, Co-ordinator for South West Ross Community Car Scheme (SWRCCS) said: “The Highland Council’s Community Transport Grant has supported SWRCCS for many years, being the main funder since 2005. The funding is vital to enable us to provide the transport service in this particularly remote and rural part of the region. Not only getting people to the places they need to be, but supporting residents to engage with local communities through volunteering as telephonists and drivers using their own vehicles.
“The grant not only enables these services to happen but also supports the staff to focus on the work rather than scrabbling around looking for further funding to cover the costs.”
Jeff Zycinski, Manager for Partnerships for Wellbeing (PfW), Inverness added: “The Highland Council’s recognition of the value of community transport, and its financial support for Partnerships for Wellbeing, has been both encouraging and vital to the growth of our service over the past five years. The assurance of three years’ funding has enabled us to plan strategically, invest with confidence, and demonstrate long-term sustainability to other public bodies and charitable foundations, helping us secure additional funding to expand our services.
“Most importantly, the Council’s investment has enabled us to build a fleet of 7 fully accessible vehicles and support more than 1,000 registered clients. A growing proportion of those we serve are wheelchair users or people with severe mobility challenges. In Inverness, where there is a chronic shortage of wheelchair-accessible taxis, our service has become an essential means of reaching healthcare appointments and day services.
“Community transport is rightly recognised as a vital lifeline in rural areas, but that is equally true in the rapidly growing city of Inverness. If an older person cannot get to a bus stop, it matters little whether that bus stop is in a remote village or on a city street. Accessible, door-to-door transport is the key to maintaining independence, wellbeing and social connection.”