A new accessible bus to get around

“Thank you for the new bus. It makes it easy for us to get around. In the bus, I’d like to go to the Big Banana and take everyone to Porpoise Pool,” says Northcott customer, Warren.

Northcott customer, Warren is referring to the accessible van at our Life Skills program at Northcott Coffs Harbour, which was purchased thanks to generous donations from community members and local businesses.

It took two years of fundraising by the Coffs Harbour team but early in 2018, the hard work paid off. A much-needed 12-seater van was purchased and modified to be able to transport customers using wheelchairs.

Fran Norton, Senior Support Worker at the Life Skills program, says the group needed an additional van to ensure all customers could participate in community outings and activities together.

With only one accessible van and a large number of customers using wheelchairs, the group struggled to take everyone out on social and recreational activities at the same time.

In recent years, demand for the Coffs Harbour Life Skills program has grown. Twenty seven customers, up from 15, now require transportation to participate in community outings and activities away from the centre.

Staff at Northcott’s Coffs Harbour office organised a range of activities to raise funds to help cover the cost of the van. These included a Golf Day and Lawns Bowl Day, both of which were supported generously by local businesses.

Fran says the new van will become even more important when the group moves to new premises with limited outdoor space.

“It makes a difference to be able to take all our customers out in the community together and it’s important to be able to offer an inclusive service for everyone.”