Transport help for less able people
Within 50 Miles of Warwick
Covering Warwickshire • South Birmingham • Coventry • Solihull • North Oxfordshire • North Gloucestershire
Rugby • Stratford-upon-Avon • North Warwickshire • Nuneaton & Bedworth • Cotswolds
June 2026
Introduction
This guide covers transport support for disabled, elderly, and less able people within approximately 50 miles of Warwick. The area includes Warwickshire, south Birmingham, Coventry, Solihull, North Oxfordshire (Banbury and surrounding areas), and North Gloucestershire (including the North Cotswolds around Moreton-in-Marsh, Chipping Campden, and Bourton-on-the-Water).
Services range from national schemes such as Blue Badge and Motability, to county-specific bookable transport services, local volunteer driver networks, and dial-a-ride minibuses. Most require advance booking and prior registration – registering before you need to travel is strongly advised.
We endeavour to support our clients in any way possible and here is a list of help available for getting out and about, with a summary in section 7, practical tips on how to approach this, and more!
1. Warwickshire
VASA – Voluntary Action Stratford on Avon
VASA is the primary community transport charity for south and central Warwickshire. It operates across Stratford-on-Avon, Warwick, Leamington Spa, Kenilworth, Southam, Alcester, Studley, Wellesbourne, Shipston on Stour, Rugby, and surrounding villages. Around 150 volunteer drivers serve approximately 4,000 registered clients.
- Volunteer drivers use their own cars for door-to-door journeys
- Medical appointments: hospitals, GPs, dentists, opticians, chiropodists
- Social inclusion journeys: lunch clubs, day care, community activities
- Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV) now available following 2025/26 investment
- Dementia day services and carer support groups also available
| Phone | 01789 262889 (press option 1 for transport) |
| Hours | Monday to Friday, 9:30am – 3:30pm |
| hello@vasa.org.uk | |
| Website | vasa.org.uk |
| Note | Does not cover Coventry or Solihull north of the M42 |
Beeline Community Transport – North Warwickshire
Beeline covers North Warwickshire (Atherstone, Coleshill, and surrounding villages). Volunteer drivers take passengers to medical appointments in their own cars. Also open to people registered with a North Warwickshire GP who live elsewhere.
- Medical journeys: hospitals, GPs, dentists, chiropodists, physio, opticians
- Hospital visiting and, where capacity allows, social trips
| Phone | 01827 717074 |
| Hours | Monday to Friday, 9am – 1pm (answerphone outside these hours) |
| beelinect@gmail.com | |
| Address | The Partnership Centre, Coleshill Road, Atherstone, CV9 1BN |
| Cost | £2.50 booking fee + 45p per mile from driver’s home |
Volunteer Friends (Medicar) – Nuneaton & Bedworth
Volunteer Friends provides medical and social transport for people in Nuneaton and Bedworth who cannot use public transport due to age, ill health, or disability. It also operates a fully accessible minibus available for community group hire.
| Phone | 024 7664 0088 |
| Hours | Monday to Friday, 9:30am – 3pm |
| info@volunteerfriends.org.uk | |
| Website | volunteerfriends.org.uk |
| Cost | £3 admin charge + 45p per mile |
Warwickshire Dial-a-Ride Services
Warwickshire County Council commissions dial-a-ride minibus services across several areas. All vehicles are wheelchair accessible and require advance registration.
Rugby area
Dial-a-ride to and from Rugby at key times, plus villages in the Rugby area.
Stratford-upon-Avon area
Five operating zones, with travel to Stratford or Leamington Spa. Operates Monday to Friday 9:30am – 7:00pm (not 2:30–4:30pm on school days).
| Phone (both services) | 0345 263 8139 |
| Note | Advance registration required; fares apply |
IndieGo PLUS – Hatton & West Warwick (On-Demand Bus)
An on-demand public bus service in the Hatton and West Warwick area. Passengers choose their pick-up and drop-off points. All buses have ramp access for wheelchairs and mobility scooters. Free for concessionary pass holders.
| Phone | 01926 895559 |
| App | IndieGo PLUS (iOS and Android) |
| Fares | From £2 per single trip; free for concessionary pass holders |
Ring and Ride – West Midlands (Birmingham, Coventry, Solihull)
Ring and Ride is a door-to-door accessible bus service for people in the West Midlands who find conventional public transport difficult or impossible to use. All vehicles are wheelchair accessible with lifts.
- Birmingham, Coventry, Solihull, Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall, Wolverhampton
- Up to 14 trips per week; book up to 24 hours in advance
- Operates Monday to Saturday 8am–11pm; Sunday 8am–3:30pm
| Phone | 0345 034 8670 |
| Website | ringandride.org |
| Eligibility | Must live in one of the seven named West Midlands council areas |
NHS Non-Emergency Patient Transport – Coventry & Warwickshire
West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) provides NHS-funded patient transport for eligible patients in Coventry and Warwickshire, including those registered with GPs in South Warwickshire, Rugby, Coventry and Warwickshire North. Transport is only available for those whose medical condition makes independent travel unsafe.
| Arrange via | GP, hospital consultant, or specialist referral |
| Lead time | At least 2 weeks before appointment |
| More info | wmas.nhs.uk |
Warwickshire Voluntary Car Schemes (Health Transport)
Warwickshire County Council co-ordinates voluntary car schemes for people who cannot get to healthcare appointments independently. Volunteer drivers use their own cars. Small charge applies.
| Find your local scheme | warwickshire.gov.uk/healthtransport |
| Key providers | VASA (Stratford/Warwick/Rugby), Beeline (North Warwickshire), Volunteer Friends (Nuneaton/Bedworth) |
| Typical cost | £3–£4.50 admin fee + 45p per mile; 2–3 days’ notice minimum |
2. North Oxfordshire
North Oxfordshire (Cherwell district, centred on Banbury, Bicester, and surrounding villages) is within the 50-mile radius of Warwick. Oxfordshire County Council co-ordinates community transport through its own Comet service and a network of local volunteer schemes. Community First Oxfordshire publishes a regularly updated directory of all local providers.
The Oxfordshire Comet – County-Wide Bookable Service
The Oxfordshire Comet is Oxfordshire County Council’s own bookable transport service for residents who cannot access suitable public transport, including wheelchair users and those with mobility issues. Fully wheelchair-accessible 16-seater vehicles are used. The service can be booked for any journey – medical appointments, shopping, social visits, or travel across the county.
- Available Monday to Friday, 10am – 2pm (not bank holidays)
- One-off journeys, regular bookings, and group trips all available
- Exclusive use or shared travel options
- Companions travel free of charge
- One-off registration fee of £3; journeys are pre-paid by account
- Can also set up regular community routes where public transport is absent
| Phone | 01865 323201 (9am – 12pm, Monday to Friday) |
| comet@oxfordshire.gov.uk | |
| Website | oxfordshire.gov.uk/comet |
| Eligibility | Oxfordshire residents without suitable public transport access, or wheelchair/mobility issues |
Community First Oxfordshire – Transport Directory
Community First Oxfordshire supports and co-ordinates community transport across the county. Their regularly updated directory (last updated September 2025) lists every local scheme. For North Oxfordshire specifically, schemes include village-level volunteer driver services for Banbury, Bicester, and surrounding parishes.
| Phone | 01865 883488 |
| info@communityfirstoxon.org | |
| Website | communityfirstoxon.org/community-action/community-transport |
| Directory | Full PDF directory available on their website (updated September 2025) |
| Note | If no local scheme exists, contact Oxfordshire County Council: communitytransport@oxfordshire.gov.uk |
Key North Oxfordshire Local Schemes
Banbury and Bicester Area – Scheduled Community Buses
Scheduled community bus services have historically linked Banbury and Bicester to surrounding villages. Note: Ability CIC, which previously provided services from North Oxfordshire communities into Banbury and Bicester, closed its services in April 2026 following funding difficulties. Alternative provision is being sought. Residents should contact Community First Oxfordshire or Oxfordshire County Council for the most current information on replacement services.
| For replacement services | communitytransport@oxfordshire.gov.uk or 01865 883488 |
Deddington and Steeple Aston Area – The Villager Community Bus
The Villager Community Bus runs scheduled services through North Cotswolds villages and towns including routes near Deddington and Steeple Aston, connecting to Banbury and Oxford. The service accepts National Bus Passes.
Village Volunteer Driver Schemes – North Oxfordshire
Many villages in North Oxfordshire have their own volunteer driver schemes, typically providing transport to local surgeries, hospitals, and essential services. Examples include Chadlington and Dean Good Neighbour Scheme, Bartons Good Neighbour Scheme, and various parish-level car schemes around Banbury and the Cherwell district.
- Most schemes charge 40–45p per mile
- Pre-booking is essential – some need several days’ notice
- Search by postcode or parish at communityfirstoxon.org
Oxfordshire Concessionary Bus Pass
Eligible older and disabled residents of Oxfordshire can apply for a free bus pass through the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme administered by Oxfordshire County Council. Pass holders can travel free on local buses after 9am Monday to Friday and all day at weekends and bank holidays.
| Apply | oxfordshire.gov.uk (search ‘concessionary bus pass’) or at a local library |
| Seven qualifying disability categories | Evidence of disability required |
3. North Gloucestershire & the North Cotswolds
North Gloucestershire – covering Cheltenham, Tewkesbury, and the North Cotswolds (Moreton-in-Marsh, Chipping Campden, Stow-on-the-Wold, Bourton-on-the-Water) – falls within the 50-mile radius of Warwick. Two specialist organisations provide the main community transport services here.
Cotswold Friends – North Cotswolds Volunteer Transport
Cotswold Friends is the main community transport provider in the North Cotswolds, operating from their base in Moreton-in-Marsh. They have nearly 100 volunteer drivers using their own cars, and recently added a new Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle.
- Medical appointments: hospitals (including Cheltenham General, Warwick, Stratford, Gloucester), GPs, dentists, opticians, chiropodists
- Social appointments: lunch clubs, day centres, visiting friends in care homes
- Service area: Moreton-in-Marsh, Stow-on-the-Wold, Chipping Campden, Bourton-on-the-Water, and surrounding North Cotswolds villages
- Drivers wait with passengers during appointments (2 hours included; extra time can be arranged)
- Annual membership required: £24 per year (£2/month); unlimited bookings
- Journey cost: maximum 50p per mile, paid directly to driver in cash
| Transport Bookings Desk | 01608 651115 |
| transport@cotswoldfriends.org | |
| Address / walk-in | Moreton Area Centre, High Street, Moreton-in-Marsh, GL56 0AZ |
| Membership | £24/year, no limit on bookings |
| Cost per journey | Max 50p per mile (paid to driver in cash on the day) |
| Website | cotswoldfriends.org/services/community-transport |
Community Connexions – Gloucestershire-Wide Transport Charity
Community Connexions is one of the largest community transport providers in Gloucestershire, a registered charity with over 30 years’ experience. It provides accessible transport across Gloucester, Cheltenham, Tewkesbury, Stroud, Tetbury, Cirencester, and the South and North Cotswolds. The charity also operates just across the Oxfordshire border into West Oxfordshire.
- Door-to-door transport using accessible minibuses and volunteer cars
- Community bus routes – register, sign up, and travel
- Group bookings and accessible minibus hire (for eligible charities and community groups)
- Annual registration fee: £25, enabling unlimited travel; journey charges start from around £7
- Bus passes accepted on community bus routes
- All drivers are trained, DBS checked professionals
- New accessible minibus available in the North Cotswolds for groups going to lunch clubs, day centres, and social activities
| Phone | 0345 680 5029 |
| Office hours | Monday to Friday, 8am – 5pm (answerphone outside these hours) |
| info@communityconnexions.org.uk | |
| Website | communityconnexions.org.uk |
| Registration | £25 annual fee; journey prices on request |
North Cotswold Community Bus Association & Hedgehog Bus
Volunteer-run scheduled bus services connect smaller North Cotswolds villages and towns in Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, and Warwickshire.
The Villager Community Bus
Operates scheduled routes through North Cotswolds villages and towns, with the primary aim of serving communities for which other means of transport are limited or non-existent. Accepts National Bus Passes.
The Hedgehog Bus
A volunteer-run scheduled service from Chipping Campden, Mickleton, and surrounding villages to Stratford-upon-Avon, Evesham, and Moreton-in-Marsh. Operates with three 16-seater buses.
| North Cotswold Community Bus Assoc. | 6 Keyts Acre, Chipping Campden, GL55 6PD |
| More info | Via Gloucestershire County Council transport pages or yourcircle.org.uk |
Gloucestershire Concessionary Bus Pass
Eligible older and disabled residents of Gloucestershire can apply for a free bus pass through the ENCTS scheme administered by Gloucestershire County Council. Bus passes are accepted on Community Connexions community bus routes and other local services.
| Apply | gloucestershire.gov.uk (search ‘concessionary bus pass’) or apply at a participating Gloucestershire library |
| Note | Eight qualifying disability categories in Gloucestershire; evidence required |
4. Driving Miss Daisy – Companion Driving Service (UK-Wide)
Driving Miss Daisy is a nationwide paid companion driving service that goes significantly beyond a standard taxi or car hire. The service is available across the UK, including across the Warwick 50-mile area, and is designed specifically for people who need extra support – whether through disability, age, illness, or mobility difficulties. Companion drivers are fully trained and will stay with you throughout your journey and at your destination if needed.
Unlike volunteer schemes, Driving Miss Daisy is available on demand and not restricted to medical journeys. It is a paid-for service at private hire rates.
What the Service Offers
- Medical appointments – companion will support, reassure, and take notes
- Shopping trips – will accompany you in store or carry out shopping on your behalf
- Day trips and outings – bespoke trips to places of interest, garden centres, seaside
- Social events – weddings, celebrations, visits to friends and family
- Group outings – for small groups including care home residents
- Airport and holiday transfers
- School runs and college trips for young people with disabilities
- Light companionship at home – board games, walks, reading aloud
Vehicles and Safety
- Wheelchair-accessible vehicles (WAVs) – passengers can travel in their own wheelchair
- All companion drivers are private hire licensed and insured
- Enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checked
- Trained in Emergency First Aid at Work
- Safeguarding and Dementia Aware trained
- Bespoke wheelchair loading training
How to Find Your Nearest Driver
Driving Miss Daisy operates as a franchise network. Use the ‘Find Your Nearest Daisy’ tool on their website to locate your local service, or call or email their central customer service team.
| Phone | 0333 014 6211 |
| csc@drivingmissdaisy.co.uk | |
| Website | drivingmissdaisy.co.uk |
| Find local service | drivingmissdaisy.co.uk/search-results |
| Note | Paid service at private hire rates – contact local franchise for pricing |
5. National Schemes (Available Across All Areas)
Blue Badge Scheme
Provides parking concessions for people with severe mobility problems. Administered by local councils (Warwickshire, Oxfordshire, or Gloucestershire County Council depending on where you live).
- Park in designated disabled bays; on single/double yellow lines for up to 3 hours
- Cost: up to £10; valid for up to 3 years
- Automatic eligibility for those on enhanced rate PIP mobility component
| Apply | gov.uk/apply-blue-badge (or via your local council) |
Motability Scheme
Allows disabled people receiving qualifying benefits to lease a new car, Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle, scooter, or powered wheelchair. Includes insurance, servicing, breakdown cover, and maintenance. You do not need to drive – you can nominate another driver.
| Website | motability.co.uk |
| Phone | 0300 456 4566 |
Disabled Persons Railcard
Gives the holder and one adult companion one third off most rail fares. Useful for travel to Warwick, Leamington Spa, Banbury, Cheltenham, and beyond.
| Cost | £30/year or £80 for 3 years |
| Apply | disabledpersons-railcard.co.uk | 0345 605 0525 |
6. Quick Reference – Who to Call
| Organisation | Area | Phone / Contact |
| VASA Volunteer Drivers | Warwick, Stratford, Leamington, Rugby, villages | 01789 262889 |
| Beeline Community Transport | North Warwickshire (Atherstone, Coleshill) | 01827 717074 |
| Volunteer Friends (Medicar) | Nuneaton & Bedworth | 024 7664 0088 |
| Ring and Ride | Birmingham, Coventry, Solihull (door-to-door) | 0345 034 8670 |
| Warwickshire Dial-a-Ride | Rugby and Stratford zones | 0345 263 8139 |
| IndieGo PLUS | Hatton & West Warwick | 01926 895559 |
| WMAS NHS Patient Transport | Coventry & Warwickshire | Via GP or hospital |
| The Oxfordshire Comet | Whole of Oxfordshire (incl. Banbury area) | 01865 323201 |
| Community First Oxfordshire | Oxfordshire – directory & advice | 01865 883488 |
| Oxon community transport team | Oxfordshire – if no local scheme exists | communitytransport@oxfordshire.gov.uk |
| Cotswold Friends Transport | North Cotswolds (Moreton, Stow, Campden, Bourton) | 01608 651115 |
| Community Connexions | Gloucestershire (Cheltenham, Tewkesbury, Cotswolds) | 0345 680 5029 |
| Driving Miss Daisy | UK-wide (paid companion driving) | 0333 014 6211 |
| Blue Badge applications | All areas | gov.uk/apply-blue-badge |
| Motability Scheme | National | 0300 456 4566 |
| Disabled Persons Railcard | National | 0345 605 0525 |
7. Practical Tips
- Register before you need to travel – most community transport services require prior registration
- Book as early as possible – volunteer schemes are in high demand; aim for at least 2–3 days’ notice, and more for hospital appointments
- Tell the service about your mobility needs at booking time, including wheelchair, walking aid, or other equipment
- Your GP surgery often knows about local transport schemes and may be able to make referrals or provide information
- If you live on the border between counties, you may be able to use schemes in more than one county – it’s worth asking
- Age UK has branches across Warwickshire, Oxfordshire, and Gloucestershire and can signpost you to local services
- Community First Oxfordshire (oxon) and Community First Gloucestershire maintain up-to-date directories of local transport schemes
Disclaimer
This document was compiled in June 2026. Service details, eligibility, contact numbers, opening hours, and fares may change. The Ability CIC service in North Oxfordshire closed in April 2026; replacement services are being sought. Always verify current details directly with the relevant provider before travelling.