Community Transport grant application 2025/2026

Please complete and submit the application below before Monday 6th January 2025.

An letter to all community transport operators in the region has been sent, to invite you to apply for funding for the period from April 1^st of 2025 to March 31^st of 2026.

Grant information

Existing funding arrangements for Community Transport (CT) in the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority (MCA) region ends 31 March 2025. This letter will serve as an invitation to all Community Transport operators in the region to apply for funding for the period 1 April 2025 – 31March 2026.

The grant application process for the 2025/26 period will be the same as the current 2024/25 period. The MCA will continue the means tested approach to grant funding because of budgetary constraints placed on the Community Transport budget will ensure value for money when allocating public funds.

There currently remains on-going communication with the Unitary Authorities to finalise the funding settlement. CT operators should note that funding towards CT schemes across the region could decrease or increase based on the outcome of the ongoing communication. It is hoped the Transport Levy agreement will be concluded as part of the MCA budget setting process on 31 January 2025.

The MCA will continue to reimburse concessionary journeys for the 2025/26 financial year based upon a fixed monthly concessionary payment. Operators will continue to be reimbursed based on pre-covid patronage. Concessionary payments will be combined with core grant funding payments to simplify the payment process. Please note that concessionary fare reimbursement is currently being reviewed as part of the MCA’s ongoing review of CT schemes. Any proposed changes, if adopted, will come into effect in the 2026/27 financial year.
As the MCA have previously offered, operators have the option to receive grant funding monthly or quarterly. The payments will be released alongside the monthly concessionary payments. Please note the application process will continue to be means tested. Grant offers will reflect the operation costs against operators’ financial reserves and other income streams outlined in the application form.
Following a successful application, Grant Funding Agreement will be sent to operator. The conditions will be sent to operators as part of the Grant Funding Agreement. Operators need to review and agree to the terms and conditions outlined in the Grant Funding Agreement to receive funding. The grant conditions will also help to inform the ongoing monitoring process.

The MCA will conduct due diligence to determine the grant award. This will include looking at financial reserves and business viability and funding may be affected by these factors. Information on details relating to financial reserves and business viability to submit is detailed in the application form.

The MCA will conduct monitoring of CT schemes based on the current monitoring form introduced in October 2023 following feedback from CT operators.
To support CT schemes with the recruitment of volunteers, the MCA will continue to promote CT at bus stops and bus shelters across the region (including on bus timetables and on the WEST website https://travelwest.info) as well as advertising volunteer opportunities along with the application form. In addition, leaflets for each CT schemes in the region will be produced and distributed. The MCA will contact successful applicants to confirm details and service provisions to ensure information disseminated is accurate.
- Volunteer application
Due to budgetary constraints, the MCA will not be able to provide additional in-year funding towards recruitment and training throughout the 2025/26 financial year. However, should the financial position improve, the MCA will notify individual CT scheme operators of such funding opportunities and how to apply.
Due to budgetary constraints, the MCA will not be providing additional in-year funding towards recruitment and training of drivers for the 2025/26 financial year. However, should the financial circumstances improve, the MCA will notify individual CT scheme operators of such additional funding opportunities and how to apply.
Please complete and submit the online funding application form no later than Monday 6 January 2025 at 23:59. Late submissions will only be considered subject to budget availability.