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Jigsaw Sensemaking Report

Executive Summary

  • 37 Total Participants
  • 6 Topics Identified
  • 32 Opinions Identified

Participants highlighted the transformative potential of community transport, emphasizing its role in fostering independence and social connection. Minibus services, particularly those with trained volunteer drivers, enable group outings, shopping trips, and dementia programs, while addressing mobility gaps for vulnerable groups. However, high costs and fragmented services currently limit access, especially in high-deprivation areas, where essential needs like medical visits and grocery shopping often go unmet.

The consultation revealed broad support for expanding group transport, with many advocating for models like the Cumnock Connector or dedicated shopper services. Priorities centered on medical access and practical needs, though some called for a unified, high-capacity system to replace patchy coverage. This spectrum of thought reflects a shared goal: creating reliable, inclusive transport that balances essential services with broader accessibility.

Participant Overview

Conversation Overview

Below is a high level overview of the topics discussed in the conversation. The most discussed topics were Purpose and usage scenarios for community transport and Existing and proposed community transport service models.

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6 topics identified

Purpose and usage scenarios for community transport

7 Opinions
21 Total quotes

Community transport serves key needs: medical appointments (8), family visits (11), and shopping (3) are top priorities, with day trips (7) and education/volunteering (3) also valued. Social bonding (2) and flexible routes (1) are secondary benefits. Medical access is non-negotiable, while social and practical needs drive demand for reliable, inclusive services.

21 Total Quotes
11 Quotes Facilitate visits to family and friends to reduce social isolation

Sample Quotes:

  • Visiting family & friends
  • Visiting family & friends
  • Visiting family or friends
  • Visiting family or friends
8 Quotes Enable access to medical appointments for those with limited transport options

Sample Quotes:

  • Going to medical appointments
  • Going to medical appointment
  • Going to medical appointments or visiting friends or family
  • Going to medical appointments / Visiting family & friends
7 Quotes Support day trips and outings for community groups, including dementia patients and carers

Sample Quotes:

  • Shopping, visiting family & friends, and community groups
  • We have used this service on multiple occasions organising day trips to local tourist places, museums and beauty spots... we have opened these minibus trips up to people from Millport and Arran as well as Largs, Beith, Irvine and the 3 towns... we particularly like their accessibility credentials allowing infirm or disabled older people access community transport.
  • Having a minibus service would allow group members to have an afternoon or day out, supporting people with dementia and their carers by giving opportunities to break from routine and access events across North Ayrshire.
  • Where private transport is not available and public services are not readily accessible, opportunities for social contact are significantly reduced... getting out and about, meeting people and getting support from dementia groups in particular is really important.
3 Quotes Assist with access to education, training, and volunteering opportunities

Sample Quotes:

  • getting to places and volunteering
  • Going to education, learning or training/Going to medical app
  • Going to education, going to medical appointments & visiting family and friends
3 Quotes Provide dedicated shopping services for those who struggle to access supermarkets

Sample Quotes:

  • I think the Day Hopper is an awful idea... focus on getting people to and from hospital, doctors, socialising, town, supermarkets etc.
  • A minibus service would allow us to offer regular day trips, a weekly shopping trip for those who struggle to get out, and a dedicated dementia outreach programme... Using a minibus becomes an event where carers and loved ones bond as a group, a community within a community.
  • Shopping, visiting family & friends, and community groups
2 Quotes Create social bonding opportunities through group travel experiences

Sample Quotes:

  • A community bus would help link dementia communities together so those living with this disability and their carers could attend a wider range of events throughout North Ayrshire where current public transport makes this harder.
  • A minibus service would allow us to offer regular day trips, a weekly shopping trip for those who struggle to get out, and a dedicated dementia outreach programme... Using a minibus becomes an event where carers and loved ones bond as a group, a community within a community.
1 Quotes Offer direct, flexible routes to replace inefficient public transport connections

Sample Quotes:

  • Currently public transport takes too long to go from A to B eg: Largs to Irvine. A minibus offers a more direct route that can alter pick ups in different areas

Existing and proposed community transport service models

5 Opinions
11 Total quotes

Most participants favored expanding group transport services, with strong support for replicating the Cumnock Connector model (8). A dedicated shopper service to access supermarkets and town centers also gained traction (3). Some called for prioritizing essential trips like medical visits and grocery shopping over leisure services. Others proposed a unified, high-capacity system to replace fragmented support or subsidized day trips for seniors in high-deprivation areas. Views diverged on balancing essential needs with broader accessibility.

11 Total Quotes
8 Quotes Expand group transport services for community groups, modeled after the Cumnock Connector

Sample Quotes:

  • An equivalent of the Cumnock Connector service or a group transport service for community groups
  • An equivalent of the Cumnock Connector service / A Group Transport Service
  • A group transport service
  • An equivalent Cumnock Connector service / A Group transport service for community groups
3 Quotes Create a dedicated shopper service to help residents access supermarkets and town centers

Sample Quotes:

  • An equivalent of Cumnock Connector/Shopper service
  • An equivalent of Cumnock Connector, a shopper service, or group transport
  • An equivalent of Cumnock Connector or a shopper service
1 Quotes Subsidize day trips for seniors to make them affordable in high-deprivation areas

Sample Quotes:

  • Small charities organising day trips for seniors privately can be very expensive and out of the range of many service users in a high deprivation and poverty area like North Ayrshire
1 Quotes Prioritize essential trips like hospital visits, doctor appointments, and grocery shopping over leisure services like Day Hopper

Sample Quotes:

  • I like the idea of the Group Transport Hire... The Day Hopper is an awful idea... we should focus on getting people to and from hospital, doctors, socialising, town, supermarkets etc.
1 Quotes Develop a unified, high-capacity community transport system to replace fragmented, small-scale support

Sample Quotes:

  • Lack of provision, lots of small pockets of support available but can’t cope with the capacity. We need a good, solid community transport offer for the people of North Ayrshire.

Specialized transport needs for vulnerable groups

7 Opinions
9 Total quotes

Vulnerable groups—including wheelchair users, dementia patients, and older or infirm individuals—face transport barriers that limit access to healthcare, social events, and essential services. Dedicated minibuses and accessible vehicles ease these challenges, enabling outings, reducing carer burdens, and fostering community bonding. However, high hire costs and limited disabled seating still restrict affordable, inclusive group travel. Specialized transport solutions are key to addressing mobility gaps and improving independence.

9 Total Quotes
2 Quotes Dedicated community buses for dementia patients ease carer burdens and enable outings

Sample Quotes:

  • Having a minibus service would help support people with dementia and their carers by giving opportunities to have a break from regular routine.
  • A community bus for people with dementia would help & bring great relief to carers for transport to outings and or respite care.
2 Quotes Limited public transport reduces social opportunities for dementia patients and carers

Sample Quotes:

  • Where private transport is not available and public services are not readily accessible, opportunities for social contact are significantly reduced, which can have a devastating impact on both the person with dementia and their carer.
  • A community bus would help link dementia communities together so those living with this disability and their carers could attend a wider range of events throughout North Ayrshire where current public transport makes this harder.
1 Quotes Wheelchair users struggle to access places of interest due to transport barriers

Sample Quotes:

  • It's very difficult for wheelchair users to visit places of interest.
1 Quotes Older or infirm individuals face long travel times to hospitals without private transport

Sample Quotes:

  • as you get older or infirm you can't get to groups at night… access to hospitals without a car can take hours of traveling
1 Quotes Accessible minibuses allow infirm or disabled older people to join community transport

Sample Quotes:

  • We have opened these minibus trips up to people from Millport and Arran as well as Largs, Beith, Irvine and the 3 towns... we particularly like their accessibility credentials allowing infirm or disabled older people access community transport.
1 Quotes Minibus services enable regular day trips, shopping access, and dementia-specific community bonding

Sample Quotes:

  • A minibus service would allow us to offer regular day trips, a weekly shopping trip for those who would otherwise find it difficult to get out, and a dedicated dementia service connecting carers and their loved ones with activities and events. Using a minibus in itself becomes an event whereby carers and loved ones come together and bond as a community within a community.
1 Quotes High bus hire costs and limited disabled seating restrict affordable group outings for older people

Sample Quotes:

  • The cost of a bus hire in our area makes it almost impossible to carry out many day trips in an affordable way... each private bus company also has a limit on how many disabled places their buses can take and this is very limiting for a charity offering support to older people.

Geographic coverage and accessibility of community transport

6 Opinions
7 Total quotes

Current transport in North Ayrshire fails to meet needs. Wheelchair users and others face long, indirect trips—even for hospitals or daily errands. Buses miss stops, routes are inefficient, and coverage is patchy. A reliable, comprehensive system is missing, leaving many without practical options.

7 Total Quotes
2 Quotes North Ayrshire lacks a reliable, comprehensive community transport system

Sample Quotes:

  • Lack of provision... We need a good, solid community transport offer for the people of North Ayrshire.
  • Transport isn't that good
1 Quotes Wheelchair users struggle to access places of interest due to transport limitations

Sample Quotes:

  • It's very difficult for wheelchair users to visit places of interest.
1 Quotes Access to hospitals without a car takes hours, highlighting gaps in transport coverage

Sample Quotes:

  • access to hospitals without a car can take hours of traveling
1 Quotes Public transport routes are inefficient, making trips like Largs to Irvine unnecessarily long

Sample Quotes:

  • Currently public transport takes too long to go from A to B eg: Largs to Irvine. A minibus offers a more direct route that can alter pick ups in different areas
1 Quotes Buses fail to stop at necessary platforms, reducing accessibility

Sample Quotes:

  • buses not dropping at platform
1 Quotes Public transport is not readily available and takes too long for daily needs

Sample Quotes:

  • Public transport is not readily accessible and takes too long.

Benefits and challenges of minibus services for community groups

5 Opinions
3 Total quotes

Minibus services unlock group outings—day trips, shopping, and dementia programs—while trained volunteer drivers ensure accessibility for disabled or infirm users. Shared transport strengthens community bonds, turning travel into a social experience. For dementia patients and carers, it offers a vital break from routine. The key benefit is independence: groups can plan and run their own activities.

3 Total Quotes
1 Quotes Minibus services enable day trips to local attractions, museums, and beauty spots for community groups

Sample Quotes:

  • We have used this service on multiple occasions organising day trips to local tourist places, museums and beauty spots... we have also had volunteers and a staff member trained as MIDAS drivers and we particularly like their accessibility credentials allowing infirm or disabled older people access community transport.
1 Quotes Trained volunteer drivers expand accessibility for infirm or disabled individuals

Sample Quotes:

  • We have used this service on multiple occasions organising day trips to local tourist places, museums and beauty spots... we have also had volunteers and a staff member trained as MIDAS drivers and we particularly like their accessibility credentials allowing infirm or disabled older people access community transport.
1 Quotes Regular outings, shopping trips, and dementia outreach programs become possible with a minibus

Sample Quotes:

  • A minibus service would allow us to offer regular day trips, a weekly shopping trip for those who struggle to get out, and a dedicated dementia outreach programme... Using a minibus in itself becomes an event whereby carers and loved ones come together and bond as a group. A community within a community.
1 Quotes Group transport fosters social bonding and creates a sense of community

Sample Quotes:

  • A minibus service would allow us to offer regular day trips, a weekly shopping trip for those who struggle to get out, and a dedicated dementia outreach programme... Using a minibus in itself becomes an event whereby carers and loved ones come together and bond as a group. A community within a community.
1 Quotes Minibus access helps dementia patients and carers break from routine and attend events across North Ayrshire

Sample Quotes:

  • Having a minibus service would allow group members to have an afternoon or day out, supporting people with dementia and their carers by giving opportunities to have a break from regular routine. Events across North Ayrshire would be more easily accessible if the transport was available.

Cost and affordability of transport services

2 Opinions
2 Total quotes

High transport costs limit access to day trips and social outings, especially for seniors and low-income groups in North Ayrshire. Bus hire fees and private trip expenses make these services unaffordable for many, cutting off key opportunities for connection and recreation. The financial strain is sharpest in high-deprivation areas, where residents already face significant economic barriers.

2 Total Quotes
1 Quotes Private day trips for seniors are too expensive for many in high-deprivation areas like North Ayrshire

Sample Quotes:

  • Small charities organising day trips for seniors privately can be very expensive and out of the range of many service users in a high deprivation and poverty area like North Ayrshire
1 Quotes Bus hire costs make affordable day trips nearly impossible in the area

Sample Quotes:

  • The cost of a bus hire in our area makes it almost impossible to carry out many day trips in an affordable way.

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