Nexus Shopper Bus Keeps Residents Moving

The Age UK Shopper Bus that ran a door-to-door service for pensioners in Sunderland, Hetton, Houghton and Washington was axed at the end of 2010. The many older people who relied on this “transport lifeline” were devastated.

After the withdrawal of funding by Sunderland City Council, public transport operator Nexus and the Sunderland Primary Care Trust, Age UK could no longer afford to keep the bus on the road. Recognising that this was a vital service, Nexus has stepped in to provide its own transport service.

Nexus started doing what the Shopper Bus did for hundreds of older people in the past: it transported hundreds between their homes and supermarkets every week.

The director of customer service for Nexus, said: “In the last eight months we have increased the total number of trips provided on shopper services in Sunderland by 60 per cent.”

According to a report in the Sunderland Echo, the 290 people per week who have been making use of the service all indicated how helpful the service was to them.

A 95-year-old widow from Tunstall used the Age UK service and has continued her use of the new service offered by Nexus. The bus drivers have also been helpful, helping passengers from their homes onto the bus and carrying their shopping for them.

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