A group addressing social exclusion “through the provision of safe, accessible, and affordable transport” has introduced five electric, seven-seater wheelchair-accessible vehicles to their fleet.

The wheelchair-accessible vehicles have joined the Llandysul Pont-tyweli Ymlaen’s, Dolen Teifi Community Transport fleet, to be placed within communities in Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire.

A launch event with Lord Lieutenant of Dyfed Sara Edwards will be held on Friday, 17 September at Llandysul Memorial Park. Members of the public are invited to come and see the vehicles between 12.30pm and 3pm.

Dolen Teifi was established in 2007 by community development menter group, Llandysul and Pont-Tyweli Ymlaen Cyf, with the aim of addressing social exclusion through the provision of safe, accessible and affordable transport.

Over the years, Dolen Teifi have used minibuses for accessible and affordable group transportation driven by volunteers, but it has become apparent that individuals who cannot access transport due to poverty, poor health, who have mobility issues, or are isolated and vulnerable, struggle to get to essential services.

However, sending a minibus to transport one person to a medical appointment may solve their problem but it is not good for the environment.

These newly acquired EV electric vehicles, hosted within various communities in Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire will help those who most need help, whilst keeping carbon emissions low.

Three of the electric vehicles arrived in the spring and were immediately used to transport people to vaccination centres, health and many other essential journeys.

Community officer at Llandysul & Pont-Tyweli Ymlaen Ann Jones said: “In some areas, the distance to the nearest mass vaccination centre could be as much as 28 miles from their home, so we worked with Hywel Dda University Health Board to provide transport for people who had special transport needs, didn’t own a car or couldn’t access public transport to get to the centres.

“To do this we have to thank our dedicated team of volunteer drivers who give of their time to convey them to the centres.”

As well as the five electric, seven seater wheelchair accessible vehicles, Welsh Government ULEVT (Ultra Low Emission Vehicle Transformation Fund) funding, through the Community Transport Association, has allowed for the purchase of five electric bikes, available to hire from Dolen Teifi office in Llandysul.