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Nexus is pioneering innovative new ways to tackle social exclusion across the region, a report published today (WEDS) shows. Nexus, the Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive (PTE), has joined a co-ordinated bid to help tackle social exclusion through the provision of public transport services. In a report published today (Weds) by pteg, the Passenger Transport Executive Group, comprising the seven UK PTEs, ways in which PTEs are helping socially excluded groups and communities to access jobs and services are explained. The report, “Public transport and social inclusion: a good practice guide”, finds that 84 of England’s 100 most deprived neighbourhoods are in PTE areas. And, Nexus is already off to a flying start with its work to help tackle social exclusion across Tyne and Wear. Social exclusion was made a priority for Nexus last year, when the elected, 15-member Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Authority included it in its policy statement. It forms part of the PTA's three core objectives of modal shift, social inclusion and economic regeneration. pteg’s report has been welcomed by Jeff Rooker, the Government’s Minister for Regeneration and Social Exclusion at the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. Mr Rooker said: “It is encouraging that the PTEs have responded to the policies set out in the Social Exclusion Unit's “Making the Connections” report with enthusiasm. “Accessibility is important because it makes a vital contribution to local economic performance and regeneration - increasing people's chances for employment, education, training and access to health services [and] I would urge everyone involved in the process to take note of the good practice examples contained here.” A cornerstone of Nexus’ approach to helping tackle social exclusion is UCall, its Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) project. UCall offers passengers flexibility in terms of routes and stopping and collection points and, in some cases, effectively acts as a shared taxi service. It is being rolled out across Tyne and Wear and is increasingly being used to plug gaps in services left by commercial operators who have found the routes it serves unprofitable. Mike Parker, Director General for Nexus, commenting on the report today (WEDS), said: “The areas we serve contain some of the country’s largest concentrations of deprivation. PTEs have been pioneering some imaginative new approaches to tackling the transport problems of disadvantaged groups and communities: from travel training to buses that link the jobless with the jobs. We are committed to building on the successes of these schemes to ensure that transport policy plays a much greater role in delivering wider social inclusion objectives."
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