Hay & District Dial-A-Ride has reached an impressive milestone - celebrating its 30th anniversary in December.

The community transport service and charity, which began with a small but determined group of volunteers, has grown to become an indispensable part of life in Hay-on-Wye and the surrounding areas.

When the idea of Dial-A-Ride was first floated, many in the Hay community were skeptical. There was concern that the service wouldn’t work or wouldn’t be needed. However, through perseverance and the tireless fundraising efforts of a few dedicated individuals, including a memorable egg-and-spoon race down Castle Street, the service came into being.

"We had to do a lot of fundraising to get started, and a major success in those early years was obtaining our first minibus," said a Hay & District Dial-A-Ride spokesperson.

"That moment was celebrated by the whole community and marked the start of a journey that we’ve never looked back from."

Over the past three decades, the service has expanded and evolved, continually adapting to the changing needs of the community. From operating a single minibus, Hay & District Dial-A-Ride now boasts two vehicles and a community car scheme with volunteers who provide transport to medical appointments.

"Additionally, we now provide monthly social trips and were the first Community Transport Wales scheme to expand the service to provide a monthly bank bus to Brecon,” explained the spokesperson.

“We offer a free prescription delivery service and free transport for carers."

The charity has also embraced technology, with its own website, Facebook page, and a quarterly newsletter to keep the community informed about its services.

The charity has its own MiDAS trainer so can deliver essential training for its volunteers locally. It has also established a group of Dial-a-Ride ‘Friends’ who help with fundraising events.

The impact of Dial-A-Ride on the local community is evident in the countless stories of people who have benefited from the service over the years.

One standout story involves a woman who lived four miles from the nearest bus stop. Before Dial-A-Ride, she would struggle to carry heavy shopping bags up a steep hill to her farm.

“It’s also lovely to hear of the many friendships formed through members meeting each other out and about on our buses,” added the spokesperson.

To celebrate its 30th anniversary, Hay & District Dial-A-Ride hosted a special event in November, where volunteers were invited to a two-course lunch and drinks reception at Hay Castle. The event, funded by Lindenleaf, was a chance to thank the volunteers whose support has been essential to the charity’s success.

“We’d like to thank Community Transport Association Wales’s Gemma Lelliott who spoke so passionately about just how vital services such as Dial-a-Ride are for local communities throughout the country,” they said.

“We must also thank Lindenleaf, in particular Helen Horton and Paul Greatbatch who attended the dinner, not only for this event but for their continued support to us over the years in terms of grant funding. Final thanks to Thom and his team at the Castle for hosting us so wonderfully and Sarah Jayne Jones who made us a beautiful cake for the occasion.

Looking forward, the charity is excited to continue its celebrations this year when it welcomes a new minibus.

As Hay & District Dial-A-Ride looks to the future, the community’s support remains vital. Volunteers are at the heart of the service, and the charity is always looking for new drivers, especially for its community car scheme.

“Our charity depends on the support of volunteers kindly giving their time to help people get to where they need to be. We are always looking to recruit new drivers, in particular for our community car scheme, so do get in touch with our office if this is something you might like to do," the spokesperson encouraged.

“However, if driving isn’t your thing, why not volunteer to be a Dial-a-Ride ‘Friend’ and help out at our many fundraising events? Even just helping to spread the word of our service to people who may benefit from it would do the world of good.”

The charity is open to anyone within a nine-mile radius of Hay-on-Wye and continues to provide its essential services to the community.

For more information, call 01497 821616, visit www.haydialaride.com or email [email protected]