Power up your daily commute with Wheels to Work

Local charity Humber and Wolds Rural Action (HWRA) is offering North East Lincolnshire residents who have difficulty commuting the chance to sign up to the Wheels to Work scheme.

The scheme aims to help more people get access to work, education and training, by offering eligible applicants a 49cc or 110cc scooter or electric bike.

A scooter can be loaned for up to 26 weeks for a weekly charge of £26 per week, plus a £110 refundable deposit. An electric bike is £10 per week.

The successful scheme is supported by North East Lincolnshire Council, its regeneration partner, ENGIE, and HWRA in partnership with Mark Hargreaves Motorcycles who provide the repair and maintenance service for the bikes. Clee Motors Ltd also provides storage facilities on behalf of the scheme.

Insurance, tax and servicing are covered by the scheme. Safety equipment can be given for an additional £45 if required. All eligible applicants are required to successfully complete a basic training course (CBT).

Am I eligible?

To be eligible to hire a scooter, the following conditions must be met:

• The daily journeys must be a reasonable distance for a scooter, for example, between 5 and 20 miles.
• No other forms of public or private transport are available.
• Transport must be required to access employment, education and/or training.
• Applicants must live in North East Lincolnshire and hold a valid clean driving licence and, where applicable, a current CBT certificate.

Councillor Stewart Swinburn, portfolio holder for environment and transport, said: “If you don’t live or work within close range to public transport or do not have access to a private vehicle, then travelling to work can be both time consuming and expensive. This leads to many people unable to access employment or training opportunities. The Wheels to Work team is on hand to provide options to allow these residents to access work and training opportunities and support them. If you do meet the eligibility criteria, I would urge you to come forward and contact the service today.” 

Wheels to Work user, Rosemary, from Immingham, added: “The only way I could get to work was by taxi and this was expensive. Now, with the support of Wheels to Work, I have saved almost enough a money to buy my own scooter, this would not have been possible without the support of the scheme.”

For more information, contact Carole Johnson on (01652) 637700, call or text 07983479362 or email [email protected].