Community-Led Transport Grant
- About the grant
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Hampshire County Council (HCC) has been allocated funding through the Department for Transport’s Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) 2025/26 Bus Grant. A portion of this funding has been designated to support the promotion of existing services through targeted marketing and community engagement. It will also support the development of new community-led transport services or the enhancement of existing provisions in areas with unmet demand - particularly where services are not currently covered by Hampshire’s tendered or commercial bus network.
This is a single grant programme offering two application routes: one for promoting existing services through targeted publicity and engagement activities, and another for developing or expanding community-led transport services.
Stream A: Publicity Funding for Existing Services
This option supports communities to publicise existing transport services that are currently underused or not well known to increase their usage. Offered as a fixed-sum award (£500), this funding stream aims to support targeted marketing and publicity campaigns to improve local engagement with existing services, which will increase the visibility of transport options leading to reduced social isolation. It is not intended for service development or operational changes - only for increasing visibility and encouraging greater uptake of services that are already in place.
Stream B: Develop or Expand a Community-Led Transport Service
This option supports the creation of new community-led transport services or the enhancement of existing ones, by enabling communities to develop flexible and innovative transport solutions that reflect local priorities. By supporting locally tailored responses to specific transport challenges, the funding aims to improve access to essential services - such as education, healthcare, employment, and shopping and promote greater social inclusion.
- What we want to achieve
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The overarching goal is to improve accessibility and connectivity for residents. This involves removing transport barriers and enhancing quality of life through community-led approaches that are responsive, inclusive, and sustainable, particularly those in rural and underserved areas, where individuals may experience isolation due to limited transport options or a lack of awareness about existing services.
- Stream A: Publicity Funding for Existing Services
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If you are applying for publicity and promotional funding only, please consider the following before submitting your application:
- Clearly identify your target audience
- Understand current barriers to awareness or usage
- Develop a costed communications plan with defined objectives
- Choose the most effective outreach channels - such as local media, printed materials, digital platforms, or community events
- Demonstrate how your campaign will help the service reach those who would benefit most
If you are not the transport provider, it is essential to contact the relevant transport operator in advance to ensure they are aware of and supportive of your proposal. Collaboration and consent are key to ensuring your campaign aligns with the provider’s operations and goals.
Funding under Stream A can be used for marketing, promotion, and other non-capital costs directly related to delivering your campaign - such as design, printing, event facilitation, and digital outreach.
- Stream B: Planning and Designing a Community-Led Transport Service in your area
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To establish a successful community transport service, you will need to begin by auditing the existing transport provision in your area. This should include mapping current services and the destinations they go to, both within your community and in neighbouring parishes, to identify potential gaps and opportunities for collaboration. Expanding or partnering with nearby services may offer a more efficient solution than starting from scratch.
After completing the audit, the next step is to explore your community’s travel needs and understand what individuals are realistically willing to pay for the service. To do this you will need to engage with your community. A combination of consultation methods - such as questionnaires, focus groups, and one-to-one interviews - can help ensure a broad and inclusive response, capturing the diverse requirements of residents. The more comprehensive your community feedback, the better equipped you’ll be to design a transport service that meets diverse needs and is actively used by those it’s intended to support.
Once you have all this information you can then look at exploring the best transport solution for your community’s needs. The Transport Self-help Kit can support this process by helping you identify the right type of service and highlighting key planning considerations - including costs you may wish to include in your grant application.
As a County Council, we are able to offer support through guidance materials - such as the self-help toolkit - and initial funding support. Please note, any service established through this process will need to be managed and/or operated by the applying organisation(s).
- Capital and Revenue Funding Split
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If you are applying for funding under Stream B to set up a new service or expand an existing transport provision, the grant is divided into two categories: capital and revenue allocations:
- Capital funding is intended for investment in physical assets. This may include vehicles, infrastructure, or equipment that supports the launch, expansion, or improvement of services. It is typically used for one-off purchases that offer long-term value.
- Revenue funding is designed to cover the initial running costs of services during a defined pilot period. This can include expenses such as staffing, service delivery, marketing, administration, and other operational needs.
Applicants may apply for capital funding, revenue funding, or both—depending on the nature and requirements of their proposal.
- Grant Funding Structure and Application Guidance
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Applicants will need to clearly outline how their proposed project aligns with the overall goal of the grant stream and demonstrate how the investment will deliver measurable benefits over time.
Several factors will influence the grant sum received by an organisation. These will include the project scope, how it meets the specific local identified needs, geographical reach and improved connectivity that a scheme offers. The grant is not intended to replace existing transport services, such as NHS patient transport, but should look to complement the wider network by addressing gaps in provision. Applicants must explain how the service will continue beyond the initial funding period.
Please use our Community Self-Help Kit to support your application and assist with designing your promotional campaign or setting up or expanding your proposed transport service.
We encourage applicants to take the time needed to develop a well-considered and sustainable proposal.
Award is subject to the timing of application submissions. Initial awards may be made from early 2026. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling, case-by-case basis as they are received. The Passenger Transport Team will aim to review each application and provide an outcome within six weeks of submission.
- Who can apply
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Organisations serving Hampshire residents, which can include registered charities and community organisations, and parish councils, or community transport operators who are working in collaboration with their local community. Where an organisation can partner with others with similar aims in the same area, this will strengthen an application. Collaboration with other organisations or existing transport operators will draw on existing expertise and may deliver a more resilient transport service.
If you are not a registered charity or formal organisation but are interested in exploring a community-led transport solution, we recommend reaching out to and working in partnership with your local parish council, town council, or community transport operator. They may be able to collaborate with you and submit a funding application on your behalf to support your proposal.
- How to apply
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Organisations applying for a grant must complete the relevant online application form in full and submit all required supporting documentation.
STREAM A: Publicity Funding for Existing Service (Community-Led Transport Grant Application)
STREAM B: New or Expanded Transport Service (Community-Led Transport Grant Application)
**Applications for this grant will open on Wednesday, 1 October 2025**
Grant applications must be submitted by 28 February 2026.
You can view a copy of the application questions, before applying online here:
Community-Led Transport Grant Application
Community-Led Transport Grant Application (Publicity Funding for Existing Services)Please note, the downloadable pdf versions of the application are for reference only, applications need to be made using the online forms. This is an online application process.
- Contact us
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If you have any specific questions or need further information, email the team at [email protected]