The Access to Opportunities project has been developed by South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive and awarded £2.38 million from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) programme. The project will run over three years, with additional funding provided by the Local Transport Plan and the Coalfields Regeneration Trust. The project aims to help people into employment, education or training via a programme of integrated, sustainable transport solutions.
Access to Opportunities aims to:
- address social exclusion by improving physical access to employment, education and training
- increase the availability of labour by removing barriers to employment
- facilitate business growth and improve access to employment by highlighting options that are low carbon
- remove perceived and actual barriers to transport through the promotion of sustainable travel options.
The project will deliver on these objectives by providing:
- travel advice and support from a specialist team of dedicated Travel Advisors assisting people into employment, education and training; as well as aiding businesses to recruit and retain staff using sustainable transport options
- increased and enhanced bus services across the Dearne Valley to improve access to employment opportunities, education and training
- the provision of motor scooters through the Wheels 2 Work scheme, if public transport is not a viable option.
