February 2022

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.