DART Partnership

For mair than 20 year, Down Armagh Rural Transport (DART) Partnership haes been helpin fowk athort oor local communities bide active, independent an connectit.

Based in Portadown, DART is a registered chairity an social enterprise providin safe, affordable an accessible community transport athort Armagh, Banbridge, Craigavon, Lurgan, Dromore an surroondin rural areas.

For mony aulder fowk, fowk livin wi disabilities an thae athoot access tae suitable public transport, everyday journeys can present significant challenges.

DART helps owercome thae barriers, enablin fowk tae attend appointments, veesit freens an faimily, enjoy social activities an bide active members o their communities.

Because community transport is aboot muckle mair than gettin frae yin place tae anither. It’s aboot keepin independence, reducin isolation an ensurin iverybody haes the opportunity tae tak pairt in community life.

Dial-A-Lift – Rural Transport

Supportin fowk livin in rural communities wha hae difficulty accessin conventional public transport. The service helps eligible passengers travel tae appointments, shops, social activities an essential services, providin an important connection atween rural communities an nearbi touns.

DATS – Door-tae-Door Transport

An accessible transport service for eligible fowk livin in urban areas wha experience difficulties uisin conventional public transport. The service supports independent livin bi helpin passengers access everyday activities, appointments an social opportunities.

Community Group Transport

DART alsae provides accessible minibus hire for community organisations an groups, helpin fowk tak pairt in ootins, activities an events.

Throu thae services, DART plays an important role in reducin social isolation an strengthenin community connections.

Local Inclusive Friendly Transport | Helpin Fowk Livin wi Dementia Bide Connectit

DART Partnership haes introduced an excitin new service specifically designed tae support fowk livin wi dementia.

L.I.F.T. (Local Inclusive Friendly Transport) is a dementia-focused community transport project operatin athort the Southern Health an Social Care Trust area.

Fundit bi The National Lottery Community Fund, the service is provided free o chairge tae the person uisin it.

The project recognises that a diagnosis o dementia should no mean losin access tae familiar places, valued freenships or the activities that bring enjoyment an purpose tae everyday life.

L.I.F.T. aims tae help fowk livin wi dementia cairry on takkin pairt in their communities bi providin transport that is accessible, welcomin an sensitive tae their individual needs.

L.I.F.T. haes been developit wi input frae fowk livin wi dementia, their faimilies, cairers an professionals warkin in dementia support.

Afore a passenger’s first journey, the DART team will tak time tae understaun their individual needs, preferences an routines.

This personal approach helps mak journeys mair comfortable, reassurin an enjoyable.

A Fully Accessible Minibus

A specially equippit electric minibus designed tae provide comfortable, accessible transport for passengers.

Freendly Volunteer Befrienders

Trained volunteers wha travel alangside passengers, providin companionship, conversation an reassurance throu their journey.

Dementia-Aware Drivers an Volunteers

Wi trainin an support frae Dementia UK, drivers an volunteers will be better equippit tae understaun an respond tae the needs o fowk livin wi dementia.

Comfort an Conversation

The minibus includes a specially developit Comfort an Conversation Box containin familiar an engagin items sic as music, beuks, puzzles an sensory materials. Developit wi advice frae Dementia UK, thae resources aim tae encourage conversation, provide reassurance an help passengers feel at ease.

For somebody livin wi dementia, the ability tae get oot an aboot can mak an enormous difference tae their quality o life.

Attendin a social group, meetin freens, veesitin familiar places or simply enjoyin a journey ootside the hame can help keep confidence, independence an a sense o belangin.

L.I.F.T. haes been created wi thae benefits in mind.

Bi providin supportive, dementia-freendly transport, the project aims tae remove barriers that micht itherwise prevent fowk frae bidin involved in the activities an communities they enjoy.

It alsae offers reassurance tae faimilies an cairers, kennin that their luved anes are travellin wi fowk wha understaun their needs.

At Memories Dementia Café, we believe that freenship, inclusion an meaningfu social connections are essential tae supportin fowk livin wi dementia an their faimilies.

We’re delichtit tae recognise DART Partnership amang oor community freens an tae highlicht the important wark bein undertaken throu the L.I.F.T. project.

Baith organisations share a simple belief: a diagnosis o dementia should niver mean losin yer place in the community.

Bi raisin awareness o services sic as L.I.F.T., we hope tae help mair individuals an faimilies discover the support available tae them.

If ye or somebody ye care for is livin wi dementia an could benefit frae accessible, supportive community transport, DART Partnership wad be delichtit tae hear frae ye.

The team can provide further information aboot L.I.F.T., discuss individual transport needs an explain hoo tae access the service.

DART alsae welcomes enquiries frae fowk interestit in volunteerin as befrienders.

• Telephone: 028 3831 7810
• Email: info@dartpartnership.org.uk
• Address: 10 Charlestown Avenue, Carn Industrial Estate, Portadown, BT63 5ZF
• Website: dartpartnership.co.uk