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Connect is a not-for-profit business providing high quality accessible transport for community and voluntary groups in South Tyneside. Our centrally co-ordinated system was set up by local groups who " realised it was inefficient to each operate their own vehicles. A partnership made up of representatives from groups in the borough worked through STRIDE to develop a community transport scheme to meet local needs. Having carried out a feasibility study, and developed its business plan, the group secured a package of funding to establish a centrally co-ordinated, accessible community transport system - Connect - to serve South Tyneside.

The project operates with six fully accessible vehicles. Under this service, vehicles will be available to registered user groups with a driver provided, to ensure that they are as fully utilised as possible. All vehicles are provided with MiDAS trained volunteer drivers. The vehicles have a number of seats which can be removed to accommodate wheelchair users. Connect also operates a wheels to work scheme.