HSC and Health Connections agree three-year partnership to deliver community transport service
- HSC and Health Connections have agreed a three-and-a-half-year service level agreement to deliver community transport services from July 2026 to December 2029
- HSC will provide £88,000 per year to fund transport coordinators and volunteer driver mileage expenses
- The service prioritises people unable to reach medical appointments or social prescribing activities through other means
- Health Connections delivered over 3,000 journeys in the first six months of 2026 using volunteer drivers
- The agreement will support development of a wider island-wide community transport strategy involving charitable sector and States partners
Health & Social Care and Health Connections have agreed a new service level agreement to deliver an enhanced Voluntary Community Transport Service for Guernsey.
The agreement will begin in July 2026 and run for an initial three-and-a-half-year term, ending in December 2029. HSC will provide £88,000 per year to contribute to the cost of Health Connections' transport coordinators and to ensure volunteer drivers can reclaim mileage expenses.
The partnership will support joint work on the future of community transport, including the development of a wider strategy.
Volunteer drivers will continue to deliver the service, which will prioritise people who have no other way of getting to medical appointments or social prescribing activities. The service will also support wider wellbeing by helping people attend activities that reduce loneliness and social isolation.
Health Connections has provided community transport services since 2010, with HSC supporting the service by funding mileage claims for volunteer drivers throughout that period. In the first six months of 2026, the organisation delivered over 3,000 journeys.
Bella Farrell, CEO of Health Connections, said: "We are delighted to be formally entering into this new agreement with HSC, having provided community transport services since 2010. Throughout that time, HSC has supported the service by funding the mileage claims of our volunteer drivers. Community transport is a lifeline for many people, and this partnership gives us the stability to keep improving the service. Our dedicated team of volunteer drivers and coordinators work incredibly hard to support islanders who would otherwise struggle to get to important appointments or social activities. In the first six months of 2026 we have delivered over 3,000 journeys. This SLA would enable us to maintain and grow the service that connects people to the support and care in the community they need."
Deputy Jennifer Strachan, Health & Social Care, said: "This agreement is an important step in strengthening community transport for the island. We know how vital this service is for people who have no other way of getting to medical appointments or activities that support their wellbeing. By working closely with Health Connections and partners across the community, we can build a service that is accessible, sustainable and focused on the needs of islanders. We are very grateful to SIF, the Guernsey Community Foundation and AGC for the work they have done to help us reach this point."
HSC has thanked the Social Investment Fund (SIF) for funding the transport coordinator roles over the past three years. It has also recognised the important role SIF played in commissioning a report on community transport, and the work of the Guernsey Community Foundation in delivering it. This report helped create the momentum needed for the States to make community transport a cross-Committee commissioning priority.
HSC also expressed gratitude to the Association of Guernsey Charities (AGC) for its support in bringing together the charitable sector to contribute to this work.
Deputy Adrian Gabriel, President for Environment & Infrastructure, said: "For some time, the Committee for the Environment & Infrastructure has recognised that demand responsive transport has an important role to play alongside the scheduled bus and taxi networks. Not every journey can be met by a conventional bus service, particularly for those with mobility challenges or those living in areas where fixed routes are less practical. Community transport helps bridge that gap, ensuring more islanders can access essential services and remain connected to their communities."
He added: "The long-term agreement between Health & Social Care and Health Connections provides the stability needed to strengthen this vital service while creating the opportunity to plan for the future. It builds on the work already undertaken through the community transport review and moves us closer to a more coordinated, integrated demand responsive transport network for the island."
Q&A
Q: How long will the new service level agreement last?
A: The agreement will run for three and a half years, beginning in July 2026 and ending in December 2029.
Q: How much funding will HSC provide annually?
A: HSC will provide £88,000 per year to contribute to transport coordinator costs and volunteer driver mileage expense reimbursements.
Q: Who is eligible to use the community transport service?
A: The service prioritises people who have no other way of getting to medical appointments or social prescribing activities, and also supports people attending activities that reduce loneliness and social isolation.
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