BURT, or Bromsgrove Urban & Rural Transport, has been running since 2009. The bus helps residents of Bromsgrove District who are unable to make essential journeys by conventional transport, either because of personal mobility/disability difficulties or because suitable services are not available. The minibus is adapted for wheelchair users. Since May 2017 the service has been run by local charity Bromsgrove and Redditch Network (BARN), the local voluntary sector network and Bromsgrove and Redditch’s Volunteer Centre.
Keep On Moving is a multi-sports club for adults with disabilities, runs every Friday during term time at Bromsgrove Sports & Leisure Centre where we welcome all abilities and ages. The club focuses on what people can do and supports them where they struggle. Keep On Moving has won multiple awards and is still very much fun based offering lots of choice, from basketball to skittles, tennis to parachute games. The group has become more than that though – it’s also a social group, and they go out together after the meal.
Gemma and Paul are long-term passengers of BURT and participants of the group, they are old hands at organising the groups activities and holidays:
“It’s indoor bowls where you sit down. It means we can play. Anyone can play.”
“I’ve organised a Christmas meal at the Guild on the 15th, everyone is coming. 21… no, 23 of us that day.”
“We do abseiling… and canoeing… zip wiring… orienteering… and archery!”
Poster: Gemma & Paul Burt and Keep on Moving
This story was created as part of the Celebrating Community Stories Project 2023 – 2024. Public Health at Worcestershire County Council worked with organisations across the County to find out what keeps Worcestershire healthy, active and creative. To find out more about the Community Stories Project visit Celebrating Community Stories (worcestershire.gov.uk)