Latest News:
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The ECTA Annual Boat Cruise 2010
ECTA's annual boat cruise took place on the evening of Saturday 3rd July and what an evening it was. The weather was so nice that we were able to sail along the coast to Teignmouth and back taking in the beautiful scenery and sunset. El Cojones, a rock, soul and blues band provided music to dance to (and boy we did) alongside the on board bar-b-que, licensed bar and great atmosphere. For the second year running there was an unofficial fancy dress theme, with lots of St Trinians present and quite a few costumes to turn heads! As well as it being a fantastic night, £618.00 was raised to help support ECTA's services. Thanks to everyone who came along, and next years will be taking place on Saturday 4th July. Pencil it in your diaries!
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Awards success for ECTA
In June 2010, ECTA were delighted to accept an award for Outstanding People Development at the Devon County Council Community Transport Awards. The award is a testament to the charity's commitment to supporting and developing volunteers and recognises the success of our popular NVQ programme. Arran Wilkins, one of ECTA's volunteers was also honoured with an award for his outstanding contribution to Community Transport. Well done Arran!
Blondell Lilley, with great love and respect
It is with great sadness that we have to annouce that Blondell Lilley, ECTA's Vice-Chair and long standing volunteer, has passed away peacefully in her sleep. Blondie was well known and loved not just by ECTA's staff, volunteers and service users but also by the community as a whole. She tirelessly campaigned for disabled people over a number of years and had been involved with ECTA since its earliest days. Her passing is a huge loss which will be felt by many.
Boat cruise tickets now on sale
It's that time of year again that we climb aboard the Pride of Exmouth and sail down the Exe Estuary to the sound of live music. We'll be meeting on 3rd July down Exmouth Quay from 7pm for a 7:30pm departure time. El Cojones, a rock, soul and blues band will be providing this years entertainment, alongside the on board bar-b-que, licensed bar and great atmosphere. Tickets can be purchased through the ECTA offices, or online by clicking here. All money raised from the cruise will go towards helping ECTA to provide our services.
New Shopmobility opening hours
As of 1st May 2010, Shopmobility opening hours will change to Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm and Saturday 10:30am to 3:30pm.
With 2009 behind us we've spent some time reflecting on our services and the changes and developments that have taken place during the year. All this, as well as a glimpse of what's coming up in 2010 can be found in our 'End of year round up' report, which you can download here.
Gig In The Garden is a one day music festival taking place on Sunday 6th September at the Woodleigh Coach House in Cheriton Bishop. There will be all sorts going on with live music provided from 10 bands, activities such as sumo wrestling and kangaroo boxing, as well as good food and real ales. For full details or to buy tickets, click through to our Gig In The Garden page. Profits will be split between ECTA and Devon Air Ambulance.
Sainsburys Collection
On Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th July you may have seen us down at Sainsburys in Pinhoe. We were there throughout both days collecting in order to support our services for Exeter people with mobility issues. ECTA would like to send our whole hearted thanks to anybody who donated to help our cause, and to our volunteer collectors, Blondie, Brenda and Susan, who helped us to raise £282.16.
Summer Boat Cruise
The annual ECTA boat cruise took place on Saturday 4th July. Over 85 people joined in the fun and for once the weather was fantastic. A great time was had by all, with people enjoying the live music, beautiful scenery, on-board barbeque and licensed bar. And crucially, over £400 was raised to help support our services. Thanks to everybody who attended and to everybody who put so much effort in to their fancy dress costumes!
If you missed out this year, fear not! We'll be doing it all over again next year. Pencil Saturday 3rd July 2010 into your diaries!
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City Sights
The new City Sights service launched at ECTA on May 1st. The service provides blind and partially sighted people with a sighted guide to help them access Exeter City Centre and it's shops services and facilities. Click here for more information.
Shop 4 ECTA
You may have noticed that opposite the Exeter CTA offices in Paris Street is our very own new charity shop. The shop is selling clothes, bric-a-brac, CDs, DVDs and many other gems. Why not grab yourself a bargain- it's based at 19 Paris Street, Exeter. We are also looking for volunteers for the shop- please click through to our vacanies page for more information.
If you have anything you would like to donate to us to sell in the shop please let us know! You can either drop it down to us in person or we can arrange collection locally if required. Give us a call on 01392 494001 to arrange. All donations are very gratefully received!
ECTA Quiz Night!
Thursday November 13th 2008
7pm at the Showman pub in Cowick Street
Put your knowledge to the test at ECTA's pub quiz, taking place at the Showman pub in Cowick Street on Thursday 13th November. The quiz kicks off at 7pm and prizes have kindly been donated by Tesco, Thorntons and WH Smith.
There will be a free buffet for anybody taking part.
------------------------------------------------- To celebrate our 15th birthday, we are holding an Open Day at our Shopmobility offices in Paris Street. If you would like to join us, the event is kicking off at 11:30am. 11.30am Welcome drinks 12:00pm An opportunity to hear how ECTA have helped people 1:00pm Lunch If you would like to join us for our celebrations please give us a call on 01392 494001. Our offices are based at the following address: 8-10 Paris Street, Exeter EX1 1GA Click here for a map.
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South West Disability Show...
Exeter Community Transport Association will be
providing scooters and wheelchairs for visitor to the South West
Disability Show on Friday 6th and Saturday 7th June at Westpoint Centre,
Exeter
The South West Disability show is the
largest event in the region to focus on independent living and mobility
for people with all forms of physical, sensory and learning disabilities
and mental health impairments.
The show organisers, atanyevent have made
arrangements for scooters and wheelchairs to be provided free of charge
to visitors.
If you would like to use a mobility vehicle
for ease of access at the show, please book in advance by calling Exeter
Community Transport Association on 01392 494001.
Entry is FREE, car parking is FREE.
So just turn up on the day or click below to register in advance and be
automatically entered into a free prize draw
------------------------------------------------- Alexandra Rose Day... Exeter
Community Transport Association to Benefit from Alexandra Rose Day
Collection
Alexandra Rose Day is here on the Streets of
Exeter on Saturday 14th June 2008 when Exeter CTA will be carrying out
their annual collection in conjunction with ARD.
Alexandra Rose Day co-ordinates collections
for charities across the UK, organising licenses and collecting
materials and Exeter Community Transport Association will be organising
a team of volunteers to collect on the day.
We will be raising valuable funds to help to
purchase new scooters to help people with limited mobility to enjoy an
independent life and join in the activities that able bodied people may
take for granted.
10% of the money raised on the day will be
returned to Alexandra Rose Day, who then distribute the money via grants
to charities across the country.
We are very happy to be working with
Alexandra Rose Day again as it gives us the opportunity to raise funds
for ourselves as well as helping many other worthy causes at the same
time. We, ourselves, have received a grant from the fund and are able
to see the way it works. Our volunteers also enjoy the day, as it is a
really visible form of fundraising and gives us the opportunity to get
out and talk to our supporters about the work that we do.
If you can help to collect, please contact
Deborah Rylands on 01392 494001.
Your help is greatly appreciated.
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ExeAccess Launches
ECTA’s new taxi service for people with mobility issues has officially launched. The ExeAccess launch took place of Friday 25th April with MP Ben Bradshaw cutting the ribbon to declare the service officially open. The taxi itself is wheelchair accessible with fares set 10% below Exeter’s biggest private hire firm.
For more information or to book please call 01392 253004 or click through to the ExeAccess page.
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Tesco Collection
Exeter Community Transport Association would
like to say a big thank you to everyone who helped with their store
Collection at Tesco Exe Vale and, of course, everyone who donated on
Friday 4th and Saturday 5th April to help to raise £409.83 for the
charity which supports disabled people and people with any kind of
limited mobility to enjoy a full and independent life.
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Exeter Community
Transport Association’s helping hand to Guiding Guild
The County Chairman of the Trefoil Guild,
community of over 18s who are or have been involved in Guiding, Cynthia
Saunders, will be visiting Exeter Community Transport Association’s
Shopmobility Centre in Pairs Street, Exeter on Tuesday 11th March as
part of the Guild’s Challenge to travel the Region.
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Mobility Awareness
Day
Exeter CTA's Mobility Awareness Day
in Guildhall Shopping Centre was a fun day for everyone involved and the
Beacon Wheelchair Dancers brought the crowds in to watch their display
!
The Lord Mayor, Hazel Slack, attended to
take part in the Wheelchair Dancing and also to present the Shopmobility
Challenge Trophy to Darren, who took part in the Treasure Hunt on behalf
of Sainsbury.
We would like to say a big Thank You to
everyone who took part:
Tony Pryce Sports, Animal, The Works,
Sainsbury and Pete's Place
And also to the Guildhall Shopping Centre
for their support of the event.
The event was also supported by Speedy Hire,
who donated the use of the traffic cones for the obstacle course and
Sainsbury also provided shopping items for participants to collect along
the course. O'Brien's Coffee Shop in Guildhall also donated teas and
coffees for our volunteers and display teams.
We would like to thank the following shops
who were prepared to allow us to use them on our treasure hunt:
Body Shop, Birthdays, The Works, Mothercare, Sainsbury,
Hawkins Bazaar, Tony Pryce Sports, W H Smith
Game Station, Pete's Place, New Look,
O'Briens.
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Shopmobility... not
just about Shopping!!!
Exeter Community Transport Association is holding a
Mobility Awareness Day in Guildhall Shopping Centre to give everyone a
chance to experience the city in a wheelchair or scooter
and take part
in a number of fun events
Open Day at the
Shopmobility Centre!!!
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Hit the New year
Running...
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Funding News...
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The People Want
Accessible Transport
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26th November
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The Mayor appeals for
votes for community transport
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8th November
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The People's
Millions: Vote to Support Independent Mobility in Exeter...
To enter is £2.50 per person with a maximum of 4 people on a team. All proceeds will be going to Exeter Community Transport to help us sustain our vital services to anybody with mobility issues.
We hope to see you there!
and organisations over the past 15 years.
Cutting of the ECTA birthday cake.
The show is aimed at both end-users, their families and carers as well
as professionals who help facilitate their everyday lives. The extensive
list of exhibiting companies not only from the region but also from
right across the UK provides visitors with the ideal opportunity to see,
touch, try out and compare the latest products, services and
initiatives. You will also be able to test the latest home aids, get
advice from the numerous professional bodies, charities and other
represented organisations, test drive vehicles and view the latest
leisure, clothing and accessories.
Exeter CTA will be providing use of Shopmobility scooters for members of
the guild to easily access the city in their quest. Cynthia Saunders
will be joining the guild’s trek at the start of their journey at the
centre at 2pm, from which the team will tour the city and the Cathedral
area.
Exeter Community Transport Association supports people with any kind of
limited mobility, whether short or long term and offers support and
assistance in reaching the facilities and taking parting the activities
that able-bodied people may take for granted but which are too often
denied to disabled people. Together with completing the Exeter section
of the challenge, the guild will gain an insight into navigating the
city from the point of view of someone who relies on use of a wheelchair
or scooter to lead a full and independent life.
For more information on the services that Exeter Community Transport
Association provides to support independent mobility, please call the
office on 01392 494001.
The Express and Echo kindly videoed the day for us, capturing the fun and
frantic moments of our Shopmobility Challenge and the Obstacle Course. 
Our awareness day will be held between 9.30am and 4pm, with an
opportunity to try out our scooters and wheelchairs in a timed challenge,
and watch our Treasure Hunt, where we pit local shopkeepers against each
other to win the Shopmobility Challenge Cup!
There will be a display by the Beacons Wheelchair Dancers from 10.30am
until 11.30am, including a short workshop, when the public will be given
an opportunity to have a go.
From 11.30am The Exeter Otters Wheelchair Basketball Team will be
demonstrating their skills with a display.
We will then be holding our "terrifying" obstacle course: a
fun slant on a serious message... we will be placing cones and obstacles for you to navigate... This is a
timed challenge and points will be lost for every injured cone!
Come along and join in!
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Exeter Community Transport Association is holding an
Open Day at our centre in Paris Street on Saturday 1st march
Come along between 11am and 3pm and see our services in action - try out the scooters and
wheelchairs to see how we can help you.
Do you care for someone with a mobility impairment? Our services
are there to help you. Come along and find out how!
There will be free refreshments available for visitors and we will be holding a raffle with exciting prizes to be won - don't miss
out!
New Year’s Resolution to start running again? Need
something to help keep you focussed?
Exeter Community Transport Association is encouraging you all to keep
fighting fit through 2008 by asking for runners to take part in the 2008
Great West Run on Sunday 4th May.
It is always difficult to keep those resolutions and what better way to
maintain your determination than to run to raise funds for those with
limited mobility.
The run is organised by Ironbridge Runners and training runs are offered
to help keep you going and support your training.
Fundraising and Publicity Officer, Deborah Rylands says “Running and
raising sponsorship for Exeter Community Transport Association will not
only help to keep you focussed but will also help other people to get
around by helping to fund equipment for Shopmobility, Ring&Ride,
Leisuremobility and our new ExeAccess project, which is due to launch in
March 2008. Your mobility can help to develop services for those without
independent mobility.”
As well as appealing for runners to take part in the race Exeter
Community Transport Association are looking for two teams of four people
to help volunteers from their regular Shopmobility customers to get
round the route in their wheelchairs. Deborah says, “Our regular
Shopmobility users are also keen to raise money for us and two users
have volunteered to take part in the Great West Run. However, as they
are wheelchair users they each require teams to push them. The teams
need to have no less that four people to take turns pushing and they
need to be fit and strong.”
Anyone who is interested in taking part in the Great West Run to raise
funds for Exeter Community Transport Association should call Deborah
Rylands on 01392 494 001 or email: Deborah@exetercta.co.uk
Exeter CTA are delighted to announce
that Age Concern have decided to support ECTA's services with funding
for our Shopmobility Shuttle service.
Shopmobility Shuttle will operate individual trips to help local
people with limited mobility to get into the city to link up with
mobility services that will help them to enjoy the freedom of the city.
Age concern's funding will be used towards paying for a member of staff
to operate the service to help people to get into our heritage rich city
and enjoy a full life, accessing the facilities and services that an
able-bodied person may take for granted but which are all too often
denied to those with limited mobility.
Stan Hacking
Concert Band help local charity in the spirit of Christmas
Exeter Community Transport Association is the grateful recipient of
£1,000 from the Christmas Spectacular by the Stan Hacking Concert Band,
which was held at the weekend.
ECTA's Manager, Kay Yendall, was delighted to be invited to join the
festivities and collect a cheque from Stan’s Band and enjoy the evening,
which was a enchanting set of holiday music, songs from the musicals and
sing-a-long carols from the 80-strong band. The ever popular concert was
a sell out and everyone enjoyed a magical, Christmas, evening out. The
band has a strong following and a wonderful community spirit to the
shows.
Kay says “We really enjoyed the show and the seasonal atmosphere of the
evening. Not only did Stan and his band take us on a wonderful journey
around the world of music, through this donation they are also helping
us to help people to escape their homes and take their own journeys
around our wonderful city”.
Exeter Community Transport Association always require help to get people
out and about with their services. If you can help in any way, please
contact us on 01392 494001
Exeter CTA were chosen by The People as the
beneficiaries of ITV and The Big Lottery's The People's Millions, a
programme designed to help the public to choose how their community
benefits from Lottery funding..
Exeter CTA are fundraising to run ExeAccess: a specialist transport
scheme to bridge the gap in the commercial service and offer a lifeline
to people in Exeter who are living with limited mobility. The funding
would enable the local charity to purchase a specially adapted vehicle
for easy wheelchair / scooter access in order to offer a taxi service
aimed at people who need additional help getting into and out of
vehicles.
Fundraising and Publicity Officer, Deborah Rylands, says “We are awe
struck at the support that we have had from everyone in helping to make
this happen. Thousands of people voted to choose our project to
win this fund and we are delighted that we now have the opportunity to
reach these people to help them to take part in the activities that
matter to them.
We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone for voting for
ExeAccess”
For more information about The People's Millions, ExeAccess or the work
of Exeter CTA, please call us on 01392 494001.
Exeter's Lord Mayor today visited ECTA's shopmobility
centre in Paris Street to support the appeal for people to vote for the
local charity's ExeAccess project in Thursday's The People's Millions.
Exeter CTA are fundraising to run a specialist transport scheme to
bridge the gap in the commercial service and offer a lifeline to people
in Exeter who are living with limited mobility. The funding would enable
the local charity to purchase a specially adapted vehicle for easy
wheelchair / scooter access in order to offer a taxi service aimed at
people who need additional help getting into and out of vehicles.
Fundraising and Publicity Officer, Deborah Rylands, says “The service
will enable local people with limited mobility to enjoy the freedom of
access that able bodied people may take for granted. Transport without
prescribed routes and times offers freedom of choice and it is just not
available at the present time.
“At the moment, anyone who needs extra help or is in a wheelchair simply
cannot get the help that they need, when they need it. We are keen to
operate the service which complements the work that we do to support
independent mobility.
The People’s Millions are decided by the public vote and we need
everyone to watch our piece on ITV Westcountry news on Thursday 29th
November and vote for us to help provide independent mobility for all.
Calls cost 10p and up to 10 votes may be made from any one phone line.
We are asking everyone to vote for the right to choose and the right to
an independent life.”
Don’t forget to vote on Thursday 29th!!
You can help us to win £80,000 to support independent
mobility in Exeter.
ECTA has been selected as one of the final eight projects to be
entered into The People’s Millions competition to win £80,000 to run an
accessible vehicle.
What we want to do:
We know that people who need help to use transport have difficulty
in getting the help that they need. We are appealing for funding for our
ExeAccess project, to provide an accessible vehicle for people who need
help with transport so that everyone can take part in their community.
People who cannot use normal vehicles will be able to lead fuller lives
and join in with their communities by reaching services, attending
social activities, church services and group meetings and making and
meeting friends.
How you can help:
The competition will be aired during week commencing Monday 26th
November on
ITV Westcountry News with our appeal showing on Thursday 29th November
with a dedicated phoneline to vote for our project.
Please get everyone you know to vote for independent mobility!
How to vote:
The phone number will be available on the morning of 29th November
and will be published in the Daily Mirror and on the ITV Westcountry
News as part of our appeal film. The voting numbers will only be valid
on that day. Votes can be cast by phone or text from 9am until midnight.
Calls cost 10p and you can make up to 10 calls from any one phoneline.
Remember, a vote for ExeAccess is independent mobility for you!
Thank you to everyone who came along to the filming of our appeal on
Friday 2nd - look out for yourself in the appeal film.
Please keep your eyes peeled, as we need you to vote for us so that we
receive the money that we need!
Don’t forget to vote on Thursday 29th!!
Company number: 6874791
Exeter Community Transport Association is a charitable company limited by guarantee registered in England.
8-10, Paris Street, Exeter, Devon, EX1 1GA