Herefordshire Access to Services Partnership

Herefordshire Access to Services Partnership (HASP) is a 3-year project, which was established in April 2006. It is jointly funded by Advantage West Midlands and Herefordshire Council and is currently operated within the Transportation Unit.

It works to encourage initiatives, which promote access to services under 3 themes:

• Taking people to services,
• Taking services to people and;
• ICT solutions.

The project aims to make strategic links between activities that are designed to improve access to services, avoid duplication of provision and maximise the use of existing resources

HASP successfully completed its first year in March 2007, bringing in an additional £218,000 of Advantage West Midlands money into the County.
This money has assisted in the continued running of 4 Community Transport projects in the first year, which include:

• Wheels 2 Work
• Lifeline Car Scheme
• Mind (Out & About)
• Ross Transport Links
• Hay and District Dial A Ride also purchased a brand new vehicle with full wheelchair access with a capital grant allocation.

In 2007/08, the HASP aims to bring in approximately £420,000 of additional Advantage West Midlands funding. Projects from the first year are again being supported within the second year with the addition of:

• Citizens Advice Bureau
• Workmatch
• Friends of Widemarsh Warehouse
• Primary Care Trust
• Community Access Points (CAPs)
• Ledbury Dial A Ride

Are you aware of any particular issues that people face in accessing local services?
Do you have any ideas for improving access for people living in Herefordshire?
Would you simply like further information about HASP?
If so, contact the Access to Services Officer, Paul Paice, on 01432 262970, or e-mail: paulp@comfirst.org.uk