Please help this feasibility project.

As at 8th January there are 3 buses left at Wellesbourne that could be purchased (UFZ, FXZ and BW66). The liquidators want to shift them ASAP. If these are lost then it would seem too risky to buy on the market as generally such a bus is being sold due to reliability issues whereas these 3 are know items, albeit they could have very expensive problems tomorrow. Someone might be prepared to buy them and hold them off-road until an operation could be put in place. If that did not happen them they could sell them themselves and hopefully not lose much on the sale.  

Due to development plans at Wellesbourne and the costs being asked, it is almost certain that the buses need a new home NOW, even if parked up on a farm some way away until they are brought into use.  ANY IDEAS ??? - PLEASE EXPLORE AND SHOUT NOW. Short term location likely to be different to longer term.

A possible new service will not be the same except hopefully for the great impact it makes on many lives. Volunteers may well be needed instead of staff, admin working would be from home and there may be more travel to where the buses are stored. It is unlikely to be somewhere cosy.

The charges will need to increase a lot and probably different organisations will be asked different amounts. It must be assumed that revenue will be less than before but some costs will be higher (eg new insurance with no NCD).

 I have tried to glean what information I can and run some rough numbers and struggle to see how at least for 6 months there might be surplus to pay any employees. Many such services are wholly volunteer run. 

PLEASE CONSIDER IF THERE ARE PEOPLE YOU KNOW WHO MIGHT DO SOME BACKROOM WORK FROM HOME. Spouses, ex-drivers, people from some user groups???    

So far 2 ex employees have been generous enough to share their knowledge and thoughts, I have spoken to the manager at the liquidators and am awaiting an insurance quotation. I understand something of the process of registering with the Community Transport Association and also am familiar with what would be needed to apply to the Charity Commission to set up a CIO Registered Charity. 

It might be that an existing organisation might act as an umbrella and take on the buses and the organisation. I would hope that, although the experience might be different, drivers would be happy to facilitate the trips out as before, for wheelchair bound people in particular. 

To do all this and to open a bank account would however need a group of say 5 or 6 to be happy to act as Trustees as regulations require that a firm foundation is set. PEOPLE WILLING TO ACT AS TRUSTEES ARE THEREFORE CRUCIAL PLEASE.  It may not be you but who do you know? Happy to chat about this without obligation.

What important aspects haven't been discussed here? What else needs considering? Are there any charities or well-off folk who are known who could be approached to fund a re-created service? Several lots of £5,000 are needed but it's not like say £50,000 needs finding.

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