RYEDALE Community Transport (RCT) has received a funding boost for its Wheels2Work (W2W) service.

The service provides affordable moped hire to enable people who live in a remote Ryedale community with no access to transport to take up a job offer, apprenticeship, training or further education.

The new funding streams from the Big Lottery, European Social Fund and North Yorkshire County Council Access fund will last for three years and will ensure the sustainability of the service, as well as access for an increasing number of users.

In addition, it will allow RCT to extend the reach of the service into the Scarborough area, helping a greater number of people to take up opportunities which could otherwise not be available to them.

Steve Mellalieu, manager of Ryedale Community Transport, said that the W2W service had helped more than 500 people since its inception in 2002.

“There may be about 20 people on the scheme at any one time and this new funding will allow us to increase access to the service, which is extremely valuable to people in our rural communities, supporting them as they look to get into work or training,” he said.

For more information on the W2W service, phone Mark Hall at Ryedale Community Transport on 01653 699059 or go to ryedalect.org