Kevan Jones, Member of Parliament for North Durham, recently visited the Wheels 2 Work County Durham project, which offers practical help with transport to work, college and apprenticeships for people across County Durham.
The organisation has now provided mopeds to nearly 100 people, offering them training, personal protective clothing, a secure lock, moped insurance and tax, servicing of the moped and a breakdown and recovery service.
Kevan met three of the riders, Mark, Neal and Wayne, who told them that the service has had a huge impact on their lives, enabling them to get easily to work as well as to visit family, shops and access training and community opportunities.
Mark told Kevan that the scheme is ‘a lifeline’ and that he uses his moped to help fellow veterans in his support group, while another rider Neal described how joining the scheme slashed his travel time to work from nearly two hours to just 15 minutes.
Kevan Jones said :
“In a large county like Durham with many small communities, transport is a key issue and can be a real barrier for those seeking employment.
The Wheels 2 Work scheme, based at Bullion Hall in Chester-le-Street, is a brilliant project which helps people to access work and overcome problems of isolation.
I was delighted to meet the riders and hear about the difference which the mopeds have made to their lives.”
Gina Davies, Project Manager for Wheels 2 work said :
“The team were pleased to welcome Kevan Jones MP, and explain the work which we have been doing.
This innovative project offers practical help to people when they need it most, and we were very proud to get our 99th rider on the road recently.
Anybody who lives in County Durham and is interested in accessing Wheels 2 Work can contact us on 0191 303 8442 or by email at [email protected]”