A CHARITY that supports community and voluntary groups and activities showed off its new fleet of seven minibuses at a special open-day event.

Wessex Community Action held an open afternoon and annual meeting on Wednesday to help people find out more about the services it offers to local voluntary groups, individuals and small businesses.

The event was held at the charity’s new premises at Paxton Business Centre on Churchfields Industrial Estate.

It was attended by many members from local community groups and Salisbury City Council, as well as the Deputy Mayor of Salisbury, Derek Brown.

Councillor Brown was given a guided tour of the minibus which will be used for the new Five Rivers Hoppa Service, funded by Wiltshire Council.

The service will begin in June and initially will run every Thursday – taking people from New Canal in the city to the Five Rivers Leisure Centre and back, enabling those without transport to access health and well-being services and activities.

The Wessex Community Action team were all in attendance and Shani Marshall was recognised for her long service to the charity.

Shani came to work for the then Salisbury and District Council for Voluntary Services in 1991 and was promoted to transport manager in 2003, a position that she has held since.

Over the last 25 years, in addition to her regular duties, Shani has been involved in taking clients with learning disabilities for weekends away on the coast and in the New Forest, as well as day trips with some of the elderly clients from local day centres.

Shani is currently responsible for the day-to-day organisation of the fleet and the drivers and she will be happy to quote for any trips that people would like to make in Wessex Community Action’s buses.

In addition to transport, Wessex Community Action provides many back office services including payroll, book-keeping, printing and a comprehensive training programme.

They are able to tailor training to an organisation’s specific needs as well as running courses which individuals can attend.

For any more information on any of their services and a competitive quotes call please contact the office on 01722 326822 or email info@wessexcommunityaction.org.uk