Southern Housing Group is rolling out 3 new minibuses to help its residents and customers from across its care and support services to get around the Island.
The new minibuses are fully adapted to meet a wide range of mobility needs and have flexible seating to accommodate wheelchairs.
Each minibus sports the Group’s new Southern 360 insignia, which represents the housing association’s expanded commitment to providing focused community investment, care and supported independence, and independent housing for later life.
The Southern 360 team is helping Southern Housing Group’s Isle of Wight care and supported residents and customers to socialise, get to activities and appointments or simply visit the shops or other amenities.
To celebrate their arrival, residents from Furze Brake, one of Southern Housing Group’s extra care schemes in Newport, were invited for an exclusive first look and a maiden voyage in the new vehicles.
Furze Brake resident Brian said:
“We feel so lucky to have these brand-new minibuses to use. They are much easier to get in and out of and we are looking forward to getting out and about for trips and visits”.
Southern Housing Group, which was given an ‘outstanding’ rating for its registered care home on Argyll Street in Ryde by the Care Quality Commission in 2019, has long recognised the importance and benefits of providing mobility, and the associated sense of independence for their residents who require additional care and support.
Director of Community Investment and Care at Southern Housing Group, Anabel Palmer, said:
“Whether this means being able to visit the shops on Ryde High Street, travel to appointments or social outings and sight-seeing, these new Southern 360 minibuses will make the world of difference for our residents. By supporting their independence and helping them to be more connected to the Isle of Wight community, we know that our residents will feel happier and more confident”.
What a good idea nice to see
Is this going to be a similar service to dial a ride