8th January 2026
In some of Cumbria’s more remote communities, a regular, reliable bus service means the difference between isolation and independence, between loneliness and a good catch-up with pals.
Western Dales Community Bus Service was set up in 2012 after public funding was withdrawn for the Saturday bus service connecting Dent station with Sedbergh and Kendal.
As operators have cut more services over the years, the organisation has stepped in to fill in the gaps. It now runs buses five days a week, connecting Sedbergh with Dent, Ravenstonedale, Newbiggin-on-Lune, Kendal and Kirkby Stephen.
Incredibly, the service is almost entirely volunteer run, with just one paid member of staff. Rebecca Atkinson is the part-time Operations Manager, a post partly funded by the Community Foundation with a grant from the Pappagallino Fund.
She is supported by a team of 23 volunteers, including 16 volunteer drivers, plus others who give up their time to help with marketing, finance, timetabling and more.
“The funding that’s provided is vital because these are routes that don’t turn a profit,” said Rebecca. “We are only able to run these services because of the funding support from organisations like the Community Foundation, and because we have volunteer drivers.
“The volunteers get to know the passengers who use the bus on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. They’re a great team. Having this service really does make a difference to people who can’t drive, or who have limited mobility.”
Zander Skill of Sedbergh catches the community bus several times a week. He uses sticks to help him walk but is able to climb aboard without too much trouble. The two minibuses both have low floors, meaning a wheelchair or buggy can be wheeled on, with a dedicated wheelchair space onboard.
“I use it to come into Kendal from Sedbergh – there’s more to do here,” Zander said. “I use it mainly to go to the library, but people use it for all sorts – to go shopping, get an eye test, go for medical appointments.”
His wife Elizabeth said: “It’s really well used. Sometimes you can’t get on – it’s full. The drivers are wonderful.”
Linda Johnstone has been giving up her time to drive the community bus for more than five years. “I’ve always loved driving and I wasn’t working full time, so I thought, why not? It’s nice to do something for the community.”
Older people can use their concessionary bus passes for free on the Western Dales routes, and a large number of passengers are from this demographic.
But the service also has a growing number of paying passengers, with a big increase since the national price cap on bus fares of £2 (now £3) a journey was introduced.
Rebecca said: “We’ve had a lot of growth in the last 18 months of teenagers and young adults, particularly on a Saturday to go to Kendal, which is good. You’ve got to get people using buses at a young age for them to then go on to use them throughout their lives.”