Beverley Community Lift
“It takes only moments for stranger to become friends - each gaining a little something from their journey together” - Val, car volunteer
This friendship network is made possible by the community transport service, Beverley Community Lift (BCL). They provide minibuses lifts that transport people to social and support groups, a car scheme for various health appointments, and a shopping service that runs to local supermarkets. One bus is able to carry wheelchair passengers.
Established in 1970, Beverley Community Lift (BCL) began as a good neighbour scheme. People would put a sign in their windows and a street representative would give them whatever help they needed. Initially called the Beverley Community Care Association, the self-help scheme developed into the fully-certified transport service it is today and took on the new name in 2003.
BCL originally ran a fleet of 7 buses, each with a name. The one addition was Winnie, an accessible state-of-the-art minibus that was the prize in an Unwin Safety Systems competition. BCL came in first out of 350 entrants. The judges called the group a ‘dedicated team providing an invaluable service to the local community and an organisation which would benefit immensely by the addition of a new vehicle’.
One volunteer expressed her excitement saying, “We are absolutely thrilled to have won this fantastic minibus. It will allow us to widen the scope of our activities into new areas, meaning more people will benefit from the services we can offer.”
BCL holds creative events to raise funds. Volunteers often set up stalls at local fairs and markets, and their Tea Dances and Coffee Mornings are a blast! BCL has received donations from the Beverley Round Table and The Ladies' Circle and a grant from the East Riding Council.
Volunteer Irish Altoft won personal acclaim by being chosen as one of Yorkshire and Humber's top “women of achievement” from the Duke of York’s Community Initiative for Achievement. Beverley Community Lift has received recognition in the form of the Duke of York’s Community Initiative Award in 2005 and 2008, the Big Lottery Award in 2005, and the prestigious Queen's “Unsung Heroes” Award for Voluntary Service.
They operate one charity shop, and have about 200 people on their database and more than 95% of the people who are supported by BCL are 65 and over.
In 2020, the charity started its 50th anniversary year by taking delivery of a new, 16-seater minibus after a three-year fundraising campaign. The Coronavirus pandemic affected the charity's operations in 2020, postponing all but essential activity. In 2021, shopping services are still being provided, but at reduced capacity, and our team of volunteer car drivers continue to take people to medical appointments.
Created prior to 2011. Updated 2021
Beverley Community Lift benefits from Attend membership, which includes comprehensive charity insurance cover. For more information, or to join, please click here.
