BUILTH Wells Community Support unveiled its new community transport vehicle last week earlier this month.
Nicknamed ‘Evie’, the electric vehicle can transport people and wheelchairs and was officially unveiled alongside the official opening of the community support’s new premises at 1 Groe Street.
Evie and her two drivers have been paid for from a grant of nearly £100,000 from the National Lottery Community Fund in Wales. Builth Wells Community Support successfully applied for a £99,795 grant to cover buying, running and driving the new electric vehicle over the next three years. Evie will be working away alongside the volunteer car service, carrying passengers to appointments and delivering shopping and prescriptions.
Peter James, the High Sheriff of Powys, cut Evie’s ribbons in front of volunteers and onlookers. Builth mayor Gwyn Davies then cut a ribbon to officially open 1 Groe Street as the new home for community support in town. The charity moved in during the pandemic and were delighted to finally show off their new home which is centrally placed in Builth, directly opposite the main Groe car park. Their team of volunteers also run a lunch club, foodbank and organise shopping and prescription delivery.
Cathy Warlow, manager at Builth Wells Community Support, said: “Evie is such a great asset for us and the community – we are so grateful to players of the National Lottery for the grant.
“Now we will be able to help so many people not to be isolated and to get out and about again. Our wonderful volunteers have kept things going but we are always looking for more so if anyone wants to get involved do get in touch.”
John Rose, director of the National Lottery Community Fund in Wales, added: “National Lottery players raise over £30 million each week for good causes throughout the UK.
“Last year we funded over 8,000 projects across the UK to bring communities together. We are looking forward to hearing what the community of Builth Wells find for Evie to do and we were delighted they wanted funding for an electric vehicle as this will help them cut costs and reduce carbon emissions and so work in an environmentally responsible way, a subject close to our hearts here at the National Lottery Community Fund.”
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