Community transport operators may participate in the National Bus Fare Cap Scheme where they operate eligible services and choose to take part. Participating operators are eligible for reimbursement in respect of discounted journeys made under the scheme. The reimbursement arrangements are designed to support participation by eligible operators while ensuring passengers benefit from discounted fares.

Operators that do not participate remain free to set their own fares; community transport operators were eligible for £3.8m of Departmental funding support in 2026/27.

Community transport operators may participate in the National Bus Fare Cap Scheme where they operate eligible services and choose to take part. Participating operators are eligible for reimbursement in respect of discounted journeys made under the scheme. The reimbursement arrangements are designed to support participation by eligible operators while ensuring passengers benefit from discounted fares.

Operators that do not participate remain free to set their own fares; community transport operators were eligible for £3.8m of Departmental funding support in 2026/27.

Community transport operators may participate in the National Bus Fare Cap Scheme where they operate eligible services and choose to take part. Participating operators are eligible for reimbursement in respect of discounted journeys made under the scheme. The reimbursement arrangements are designed to support participation by eligible operators while ensuring passengers benefit from discounted fares.

Operators that do not participate remain free to set their own fares; community transport operators were eligible for £3.8m of Departmental funding support in 2026/27.

Community transport operators may participate in the National Bus Fare Cap Scheme where they operate eligible services and choose to take part. Participating operators are eligible for reimbursement in respect of discounted journeys made under the scheme. The reimbursement arrangements are designed to support participation by eligible operators while ensuring passengers benefit from discounted fares.

Operators that do not participate remain free to set their own fares; community transport operators were eligible for £3.8m of Departmental funding support in 2026/27.

Community transport operators may participate in the National Bus Fare Cap Scheme where they operate eligible services and choose to take part. Participating operators are reimbursed for discounted journeys made under the scheme, while operators that do not participate remain free to set their own fares.

The Government recognises the important role community transport plays, particularly in rural areas, and provides wider support through measures including the Bus Service Operators Grant and funding provided to local transport authorities to help maintain and improve local bus services. Community transport operators were also eligible for £3.8m of Departmental funding support in 2026/27.

The Department engages regularly with stakeholders across the bus sector on the National Bus Fare Cap Scheme.

Community transport operators may participate in the National Bus Fare Cap Scheme where they operate eligible services and choose to take part. Participating operators are reimbursed for discounted journeys made under the scheme, while operators that do not participate remain free to set their own fares.

The Government recognises the important role community transport plays, particularly in rural areas, and provides wider support through measures including the Bus Service Operators Grant and funding provided to local transport authorities to help maintain and improve local bus services. Community transport operators were also eligible for £3.8m of Departmental funding support in 2026/27.

The Department engages regularly with stakeholders across the bus sector on the National Bus Fare Cap Scheme.

Community transport operators may participate in the National Bus Fare Cap Scheme where they operate eligible services and choose to take part. Participating operators are reimbursed for discounted journeys made under the scheme, while operators that do not participate remain free to set their own fares.

The Government recognises the important role community transport plays, particularly in rural areas, and provides wider support through measures including the Bus Service Operators Grant and funding provided to local transport authorities to help maintain and improve local bus services. Community transport operators were also eligible for £3.8m of Departmental funding support in 2026/27.

The Department engages regularly with stakeholders across the bus sector on the National Bus Fare Cap Scheme.

Community transport operators may participate in the National Bus Fare Cap Scheme where they operate eligible services and choose to take part. Participating operators are reimbursed for discounted journeys made under the scheme, while operators that do not participate remain free to set their own fares.

The Government recognises the important role community transport plays, particularly in rural areas, and provides wider support through measures including the Bus Service Operators Grant and funding provided to local transport authorities to help maintain and improve local bus services. Community transport operators were also eligible for £3.8m of Departmental funding support in 2026/27.

The Department engages regularly with stakeholders across the bus sector on the National Bus Fare Cap Scheme.

The Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) is demand led, and so if eligible community transport operators in rural areas submit claims, these claims, if approved, are paid by the Department.

The department budgeted for £2.365m in 2024/25 and £3.8m in 2025/26 for community transport operators, within the BSOG budget. Because community transport operators do not necessarily operate within local authority boundaries, and BSOG is no longer issued at a local level, it is not possible to set out amounts of BSOG received by community transport operators in West Dorset in the last five years.

Dorset Council will be allocated £12.2 million under the LABG from 2026/27 to 2028/29. Funding allocated to local authorities to improve services can be used in whichever way they wish to deliver better services for passengers, including expanding services and improving reliability. In previous years, the budget for community transport operators was not fully drawn down.

The Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) is demand led, and so if eligible community transport operators in rural areas submit claims, these claims, if approved, are paid by the Department.

The department budgeted for £2.365m in 2024/25 and £3.8m in 2025/26 for community transport operators, within the BSOG budget. Because community transport operators do not necessarily operate within local authority boundaries, and BSOG is no longer issued at a local level, it is not possible to set out amounts of BSOG received by community transport operators in West Dorset in the last five years.

Dorset Council will be allocated £12.2 million under the LABG from 2026/27 to 2028/29. Funding allocated to local authorities to improve services can be used in whichever way they wish to deliver better services for passengers, including expanding services and improving reliability. In previous years, the budget for community transport operators was not fully drawn down.

The Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) is demand led, and so if eligible community transport operators in rural areas submit claims, these claims, if approved, are paid by the Department.

The department budgeted for £2.365m in 2024/25 and £3.8m in 2025/26 for community transport operators, within the BSOG budget. Because community transport operators do not necessarily operate within local authority boundaries, and BSOG is no longer issued at a local level, it is not possible to set out amounts of BSOG received by community transport operators in West Dorset in the last five years.

Dorset Council will be allocated £12.2 million under the LABG from 2026/27 to 2028/29. Funding allocated to local authorities to improve services can be used in whichever way they wish to deliver better services for passengers, including expanding services and improving reliability. In previous years, the budget for community transport operators was not fully drawn down.

The Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) is demand led, and so if eligible community transport operators in rural areas submit claims, these claims, if approved, are paid by the Department.

The department budgeted for £2.365m in 2024/25 and £3.8m in 2025/26 for community transport operators, within the BSOG budget. Because community transport operators do not necessarily operate within local authority boundaries, and BSOG is no longer issued at a local level, it is not possible to set out amounts of BSOG received by community transport operators in West Dorset in the last five years.

Dorset Council will be allocated £12.2 million under the LABG from 2026/27 to 2028/29. Funding allocated to local authorities to improve services can be used in whichever way they wish to deliver better services for passengers, including expanding services and improving reliability. In previous years, the budget for community transport operators was not fully drawn down.

The Government recognises the important role that community transport services play in providing access to local services and opportunities, particularly in rural areas, including West Dorset.

The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) applies on eligible local bus services as defined in concessionary travel legislation. Certain community transport services may be eligible for the scheme where they meet the relevant statutory criteria. Under the ENCTS, operators are reimbursed by Travel Concession Authorities on a ‘no better, no worse off’ basis for concessionary travel, so that operators should be left financially neutral as a result of carrying concessionary pass holders.

Community transport is primarily operated by charities. In England, Wales and Scotland, these organisations can run not-for-profit community services using Transport Act Section 19 and Section 22 permits, so they do not need a Public Service Vehicle Operator’s licence. In Northern Ireland operators can operate under Section 10B permits.

Section 19 permits can be issued by Designated Bodies listed in The Transport Act 1985 Section 19 Minibus (Designated Bodies) Order 1987. The Office of the Traffic Commissioner and Community Transport Association issue the greatest number of permits. Designated Bodies may hold their own records of the permits they issue.

The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) applies on eligible local bus services as defined in concessionary travel legislation. Certain community transport services may be eligible for the scheme where they meet the relevant statutory criteria.

The ENCTS currently costs around £795 million annually in reimbursement costs to operators. Any change to the statutory concession or to the services eligible for reimbursement would need to be carefully considered for their impact on the scheme’s financial sustainability.

Local authorities in England may also provide discretionary concessions in addition to the statutory ENCTS entitlement, including on community transport services that are not eligible for the ENCTS. Any such concessions are determined and funded locally, taking account of local needs and priorities.

This Government is investing in bus services long-term and has confirmed over £3 billion from 2026/27 to support local leaders and bus operators across the country to improve bus services for millions of passengers over the remainder of the Spending Review period.

This includes multi-year allocations for local authorities under the Local Authority Bus Grant (LABG) totalling nearly £700 million per year. Dorset Council will be allocated £12.2 million under the LABG from 2026/27 to 2028/29, in addition to the £3.8 million they received in 2025/26.

Local authorities have discretion over how they use LABG funding to improve services and deliver better services for passengers, which could include support for community transport services and discretionary concessionary travel arrangements where local authorities consider these appropriate.

Community transport is primarily operated by charities. In England, Wales and Scotland, these organisations can run not-for-profit community services using Transport Act Section 19 and Section 22 permits, so they do not need a Public Service Vehicle Operator’s licence. In Northern Ireland operators can operate under Section 10B permits.

Section 19 permits can be issued by Designated Bodies listed in The Transport Act 1985 Section 19 Minibus (Designated Bodies) Order 1987. The Office of the Traffic Commissioner and Community Transport Association issue the greatest number of permits. Designated Bodies may hold their own records of the permits they issue.

The Government recognises the important role that community transport services play in providing access to local services and opportunities, particularly in rural areas, including West Dorset.

The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) applies on eligible local bus services as defined in concessionary travel legislation. Certain community transport services may be eligible for the scheme where they meet the relevant statutory criteria. Under the ENCTS, operators are reimbursed by Travel Concession Authorities on a ‘no better, no worse off’ basis for concessionary travel, so that operators should be left financially neutral as a result of carrying concessionary pass holders.

Bus services can be a lifeline in rural areas and can often be the only means of accessing essential services. The Government is, therefore, helping improve local bus services across the country, including through the Bus Services Act 2025, which puts the power over local bus services back into the hands of local leaders.

Community transport plays a vital role in connecting people with communities and essential services, especially in rural areas. We encourage local authorities to engage with their local community transport operators to ensure they are taken into consideration in local transport planning.

Community transport operators can be funded using Local Authority Bus Grants (LABG), which for the first time include consideration of the rurality of local areas. Dorset County Council, will receive £12 million from 2026/27 for the next three years, in addition to the £3.8 million received in 2025/26.

The Department for Transport also makes available up to £3.8 million each year to community transport operators through the Bus Service Operators Grant. This is discretionary funding for eligible operators to help with their operating costs. A 60% uplift has been added to claims until 31 March 2027, so £1.60 is received for every £1 claimed, reflecting increased costs.