FANDRAISING efforts for a community bus for Staindrop have stepped up a gear with the launch of a village raffle.
Spearheaded by former pub landlord Morris Race, the aim is to have a vehicle insured for any driver so that groups such as the Scouts or Women’s Institute can hire the bus at a nominal fee for outings.
Volunteer drivers will also take people on shopping trips or to attend medical appointments.
A three-day beer and music festival is also planned to help raise funds for the venture.
The raffle was given impetus with support from Tesco supermarket community champion John Bailey who offered a £100 prize as well as bottles of wine. He said: “I think it is a brilliant idea.
“When I was a member of Durham County Council we used to have a community bus and it was very helpful, especially for elderly people to get them to appointments and to go shopping.”
Mr Race said the only obstacle towards further fundraising is organising a bank account for the group.
While the initial proposal to start a community transport scheme began early last year, it was put on hold when the coronavirus lockdown was imposed and an appointment to open a bank account was cancelled.
Mr Race said: “We had an appointment last week but the girl had to go off because of self-isolation.
“The only delay is opening the bank account, once we have that I can approach Teesdale Action Partnership and the county councillors [for a grant].”
All cash collected at the village Post Office prior to the lockdown can also be banked, he added.
Mr Race said: “The support has been fantastic.”
Volunteers Ben and Gill Johnson will be going door-to-door through the village with raffle tickets, but anyone who is missed can buy tickets at the Post Office or Simon’s Butchers.
Preparations for the beer festival, which starts on Friday, September 3, at the Masonic Hall, are well underway and the group has already received sponsorship for beer mugs from James Priestley and Simon’s Butchers.
Any other businesses interested in sponsoring can contact Mr Race on 07983 102041.
