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Testimonies from the Kent Karrier Bus Service

Isolation and loneliness has been reported to affect elderly and disabled people more than non-disabled people since the pandemic started, 46% saying it has affected their mental health as a result. The Kent Karrier service is more than just a shopping bus to many who use it. It is a focal point for socialising, a means to get out of one’s home and reduce the feeling of isolation, more importantly an opportunity to interact with other people in one’s community. We have collated stories of gratitude for the door to door assistance the drivers who assist them and how we make it possible for those most in need are testament to just how vital the service is to the passengers who use it. Feedback from our Kent Karrier passengers reported that everyone had praise and thanks for it the service provided, and the drivers who help them during their journeys. Others commented: “I’m 88 now, and carrying all my shopping and going all the way back home is just impossible for me. I just can’t do it. But I love the independence of being able to go shopping again thanks to these buses, and going around the store by myself. Kent Karrier lets me do that, helps me take my independence back. I can’t get out of the house otherwise. Lots of us live alone but we’ve made friends on the bus which we wouldn’t have without it. It’d be really isolating and lonely if we didn’t have the Kent Karrier service anymore.” – Mrs G “It’s more of a social bus as much as it is a shopping bus. I get to meet new people and chat with them on the journey. It’s great fun being able to see them each week.” – Mrs B “My husband and I are both 86 years old. He’s had two strokes which affected his eyes so he can’t drive, and actually had his license taken away because of it. And my son has cerebral palsy so he can’t drive either. Between being his carer and everything else, we really rely on this bus service just to get around and get to the shops safely. There is no alternative for us. Waiting outside of r a regular bus isn’t good for my son, and even if we did manage to go on them, we wouldn’t be able to get back with all our shopping too. Kent Karrier is a lifeline for us and without it, we wouldn’t be able to go anywhere. How can we support ourselves without this service to help? Without the wonderful drivers who assist me and my son and my husband? It would be impossible to get anything we need.” – Mrs E “Until you’re on one of the runs, on the buses, you don’t realise just how important it is to the passengers. There have been many meaningful moments for me, but especially on the days when, you come back and they recognise you as their driver, it’s always nice to see. It’s a chance for them to socialise, really. It’s more than just getting on a bus and going back and forth.” – Driver N These are just some of the testimonies and feedback we have received from regular passengers of our Kent Karrier service, and it would be unjust not to listen to those who lives would be affected by the proposed withdrawal of this service. If this has impacted you, or you know someone who would be affected by this bus service being withdrawn, please fill out the consultation linked here and join us in fighting Kent County Council’s proposal to terminate this vital service: www.kent.gov.uk/bussavings

2022 Winter Paralympics - An Interview with Zak Skinner

The Winter Paralympic Games are once again upon us. With this opportunity to highlight the great and inspiring feats of many disabled athletes from around the world, we thought we’d reach out to a friend of Compaid, British Paralympian and European long-jump and 100m champion, Zak Skinner, to answer a few questions about his time training during a global pandemic and his expectations regarding the winter games. How did you been coping with day to day life during the pandemic? For me the pandemic was a struggle, but I had it a lot luckier than a lot of people in the early stages. The track was allowed to stay open under strict circumstances which allowed us to carry on training and mentally, being able to have contact with people and get out of the house was amazing. It also took away a lot of the external distractions that can come in a lifestyle where there was nothing to actually do outside of training. For me the hardest part was when everything started to ease, because nothing eased for us. It was still too risky to be mixing with many people. Apart from that and unfortunately catching Covid myself, I did manage okay and am glad to see we are moving past it all now. Did the pandemic disrupt your training? If so, in what ways and how did you resolve the issue? As mentioned earlier we were lucky in that the track stayed open, but the strict conditions meant the environment was strange and tight time slots meant we really had to cram everything in. We were always rushed with training and what we had to do, but these were minor disruptions compared to the other athletes who didn’t even have track access at all. Do you work with any other disability organisations besides Compaid? I have done a very small amount of work before with the RNIB, but apart from that I haven’t. So it’s great to be working closely with a charity that helps and supports other disabled people. What are your thoughts on the upcoming Winter Paralympic Games in Beijing? What events are you looking forward to watching and why? As a massive fan of the games and sports all around so it’s all very exciting. I think the Winter Paralympics also offer a lot more insight into the abilities and possibilities of people with disabilities. Purely because you’d assume that these sports can’t be done with people with severe impairments. But then you see people skiing with one leg and blind athletes travelling down mountains at 100kph and it’s truly breath-taking. My favourite event is the sloped skiing. It’s basically a race which is so exciting but also the margins are so small. For such a long and complicated course for it all to come down to thousands of a second makes it so exciting to watch. There is no room for error. Is there one particular Winter Paralympic athlete who inspires you most, and why? Millie Knight, she’s one of the blind skiers that we have in the games and I can relate to the disability which is great. Not only this but the events she competes in, I even think possible for the visually impaired. It had been reported from previous games that the Paralympics have been able to change public perception about people with disabilities for the better. What are your thoughts on this and what have you been doing to raise the profile of disabled athletes? 2012 London games was huge for this. Half the team that came with me to Tokyo I’m sure were inspired by 2012. It offered an insight into disabled sport that had never been seen before. We as elite athletes compete at a high level and want to win medals. However also as Paralympian we also showcase the possibilities and opportunities that are available to disabled people. Enabling them do and be more. Do you have any advice for other people with disabilities who want to get into sports? I think the biggest things I learnt that I would advise other people with is don’t limit yourself with perceived exportation of your ability. Give it all a go and if it’s not working you’ll find out. But it’s more damaging to not partake because of fear of failure. The best thing to do is give everything a go and I’m sure you’ll surprise yourself with how good you are with it. We, like Zak, are excited to witness everything the Winter Paralympic Games have to offer, and will be cheering on the skilled and determined athletes as they continue to reach new heights individually, in their field and collectively with their teams and the world as a whole.

Help us save the Kent Karrier service

Kent County Council is consulting on a proposal to terminate the Kent Karrier service, which provides door to door transport for disabled people, those aged 85 or over, or individuals living more than 500 metres from a bus route or railway station. Kent Karrier services are available in every district in Kent, and Compaid currently operates seven of these, in Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge and Malling, Sevenoaks, Maidstone, Ashford, Swale and North West Kent. Over 1,000 vulnerable residents in the county rely on these services to get out of their homes and into their local town and community at least once a week. A withdrawal of the Kent Karrier service would result in many more people being socially isolated and relying on adult social care support to live independently. A recent survey of our Kent Karrier passengers found that 88% said they felt more independent, and 82% said they were less lonely and isolated as a direct result of the service and the friends they made on their regular journey. Kent County Council is proposing to terminate these services to save around £500,000 a year. We believe that spending £500 per Kent Karrier member is money well spent, helping vulnerable people to find enjoyment and independence in their lives. The cost to KCC's social care budget would be much higher if these services were to disappear. If you agree that the Kent Karrier services should be saved, please submit your views through KCC’s official consultation, which you can find at www.kent.gov.uk/bussavings You can also contact your local KCC councilor to raise this issue. You can find contact details for your local councillor here: https://www.kent.gov.uk/about-the-council/how-the-council-works/county-councillors Together we can save these vital services and help disabled and older people in Kent stay independent and active for years to come.

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