A SCHEME is about to be launched to give a boost to community groups in rural North Yorkshire by providing them with easy access to transport.

The "Wheels 4 All" minibus brokerage scheme is expected to put a wide variety of groups on the road by using existing resources.

The idea is to encourage the concept of vehicle sharing within the Richmondshire and Hambleton districts.

The vehicles will be provided by community minibus groups and other organisations which own their own transport.

Once the owners' own transport needs have been met, the scheme will book the vehicles out to other groups which do not have their own transport.

Scheme coordinator Andrew Johnston said: "There is value to the community by organisations working together towards a common aim, in this case making more and better transport available to users.

"The brokerage will bring benefits to both the mini- bus providers and the community groups wishing to use them."

The scheme is being funded by the Countryside Agency and managed by the Rural Transport Partnership. It will provide a single contact point for access to the transport.

It will run alongside the pioneering moped leasing scheme "Wheels 2 Work" which was launched earlier this year.

That scheme helps young people in rural areas get over the problems of getting to work or work-related training where no suitable alternative transport exists and has already won widespread backing.

Wheels 4 All will be launched in Bedale next month and minibus-owning organisations, or community groups which would like to be involved in the scheme, should contact the brokerage scheme on (01609) 761832