What is DACT?

Daventry Area Community Transport (DACT) is an Industrial & Provident Society 27663R (DACT is an Exempt Charity, HMRC Reference No. XR 64125, Granting Charitable Status for Tax Purposes by HMRC) that was set up in 1993 to provide community transport services to the Daventry District. This is quite a challenge as the Daventry District covers 267 Square miles, one of the largest districts in the country! We exist to provide the community with a variety of transport and mobility solutions. To service the needs we have set up four distinct services:- 

·         Car Scheme
·         Minibus Scheme
·         Shopmobility
·         MiDAS Driver Training

We are a charitable organisation wholly supported by grants, *donations and the dedication of our volunteer drivers. Consequently, we are able to provide our transport services at costs substantially less than most alternative forms of fare paying transport.
*  DACT can reclaim tax from HM Revenue & Customs under the Gift Aid scheme, increasing the value of donations from UK tax payers by 22%.

Community transport schemes vary across the country but the basic philosophy is the same – to provide transport services to those individuals or groups in the community that need support. Community transport can help people in terms of alleviating the financial cost of travel but equally important is the personal care and support that the volunteer drivers willingly provide to all their passengers.  This is core to the ethos of DACT.

The History of DACT

Since being set up in 1993 under the management of Rob Kinning, with only a handful of car drivers and no minibuses, the growth and success of DACT  has been remarkable. Today it is an organisation with over 175 volunteer drivers and a fleet of 8 minibuses. It is now considered by some as a flagship model of what a community transport scheme should be. This level of respect is a great testament to the commitment of everyone involved in DACT, past and present. 

August 1992 - DACT was formed as an independent charitable organisastion by a Committee appointed by the Community Development Office at Daventry District Council to address the transport problems of individuals and community groups.

 October 1993  - Rob Kinning was appointed as the Community Transport Manager (on a part time basis).

November 1993 – The volunteer car scheme commenced operating, taking over 5 existing volunteer drivers and occasional journeys administered by the Daventry Volunteer Bureau.

May 1994 – After concerted fund raising efforts the first DACT Minibus was officially put on the road.

Some Current Statistics (2011/12)

·        175 volunteers

·          53,643 volunteer hours worked ·         
      241,877 miles travelled – 9.7 times around the world!
        42,602 Minibus passenger trips
        17,262 car passenger trips to medical appointments 
          5,520 scooter/wheelchair passengers on Shopmobility equipment