Almost £500,000 awarded to community transport groups across the Highlands

13th November 2026

Community transport groups across the Highlands have been awarded grants totalling £498,000 to support local transport services in 2027/28.

The grants will support 34 community transport providers, including seven new recipients, whose services play a vital role in helping people access services, connecting communities and addressing local transport challenges.

Chair of the Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee, Cllr Ken Gowans said: “The role of community transport has expanded significantly in recent years and is now an integral part of a sustainable and resilient transport network across the Highlands. It is important we continue to support, develop and integrate community transport as part of the wider transport network, enabling providers to respond to local needs and realise their full potential in supporting local communities.”

At a meeting of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee, members agreed to award grants for 2027/28 to the following groups:

Applecross Community Council - £7500
Badenoch & Strathspey Community ConnXions - £35,000
Beauly and District Care Project - £2,000
Boleskine Community Care - £4,500
Caithness Voluntary Group - £43,500
Care Lochaber - £42,000
Communities in Motion CT - £12,500
Community Support and Information, Ross-shire - £5000
Connect Assynt LTD - £9000
Creich Crock & Kincardine District Day Care Association - £7500
Dornoch Area Community Interest Company - £7500
FarrGoes - £27,500
Fox & Friends - £10,000
Gairloch Community Car Scheme - £34,500
Garve & District Development Company - £17,500
Glenelg & Arnisdale Bus User Group – £9,500
Go Golspie Development Trust - £14,500
GRO - £5000
Helmsdale Community Transport – £2500
Highlife Highland (Sunart Centre) - £8500
Lairg Community Association - £10,000
Lochaber Action on Disability - £12,000
Nairn Community Transport - £6500
Partnerships for Wellbeing - £23,500
Shopmobility Highland - £17,500
Sleat Community Trust - £7000
South Lochaber Community Company - £2500
South West Ross Community Car Scheme - £43,500
Stratherrick and Foyers Community Trust - £2500
Strathnairn Community Access & Transport Association - £7500
Transport for Tongue Limited - £37,000
Tykes - £5000
Urram - £7000
Wheels in Nairnshire - £11,000
Community transport has traditionally been associated with volunteer car schemes, community minibus operations and accessible transport services.

However, many operators now deliver school transport and other contracted services in local communities, alongside innovative approaches to transport delivery, such as the partnership between The Highland Council, NHS Highland, and community transport providers supporting renal patient transport to Raigmore Hospital, Inverness.

Demand for funding remains strong, highlighting the vital role community transport plays across the Highlands.

Insight from the grant application process, including the level of demand, variations in service provision between areas, and continuing gaps in coverage, will help inform the development of a future Community Transport Strategy for the Highlands.

 

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