OUTLYING areas of Swindon will benefit from a new minibus donated to Swindon Dial A Ride by the Department for Transport.

The Swindon transport group was one of more than 300 charities across the UK to benefit from the Whitechapel department’s £25m Community Transport Minibus Fund.

Earlier this week, Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin revealed Dial A Ride had been selected off the back of director Evelyn Rider’s application in the winter.

Evelyn plans to add the minibus to the charity’s total fleet of 14 vehicles and use it for its group service, which provides transport for voluntary and community groups in and around Swindon.

“It’s also having a new bus which will enable us to expand into areas we don’t currently cover around the edges of Swindon,” she said.

“Areas like Royal Wootton Bassett, Bourton and Shrivenham.”

“It’s a really nice thing to do. It shows people appreciate what transport groups do.”

Evelyn said the fund had been opened up to provide support to transport groups like theirs which operate in rural or deprived areas.

“We have been very aware that the areas around the edges of Swindon have limited access to transport,” she said.

“It is something we would have loved to have, but with limited money and limited buses we weren’t able to do.”

There are already 100 community groups, sports clubs, elderly associations using the group service offered by Swindon Dial A Ride, but this number is set to be boosted by those groups in need outside Swindon.

Patrick said: “I know first-hand how important transport providers like these can be to keep rural areas alive and protect the independence of local residents.

“They are often the lifeblood of local communities so it is only right that the government gives them the support they deserve.

“This £25m fund will buy more than 300 new vehicles, some specially adapted, to help these organisations continue to carry out their important work in the community.

“We have had an overwhelming response, which demonstrates the importance of this fund, and I am keen to support similar schemes in the future.”

The winners from across the country will each receive a nine to 16-seat minibus specifically tailored to their requirements - such as disability-friendly access and adapted seating.

The Department For Transport announced the funding and criteria for the awards last November and invited applications up until January.