A partnership that helps vulnerable people leave hospital safely, settle back into their homes and regain their independence has been recognised with a national Community Transport Award.
National Recognition for PIVOT Service
PACTO and Royal Voluntary Service (RVS) have been named Partnership of the Year at the Community Transport Association (CTA) Awards, recognising their work through the PIVOT service in Pembrokeshire. The partnership supports people at critical moments in their lives, helping ensure they have not only transport home from hospital, but also access to practical support, essential supplies and ongoing assistance to help them remain safe and independent.
For many people, the journey home is just the beginning. Through PIVOT, trained volunteer drivers can collect patients from hospital, help them settle back home, pick up shopping or prescriptions on the way, and connect them with additional support where needed.
One beneficiary, Mrs M, said: "PIVOT kept me in my home. You are all angels, from the driver to everyone who has visited me."
The judges praised the partnership for demonstrating how community transport can play a vital role in supporting health, wellbeing and independence, particularly in rural communities where access to services can be challenging.
Voices from the Partnership
Victoria Armstrong, Chief Executive at the Community Transport Association, said: "PACTO and Royal Voluntary Service show the real power of partnership working in community transport. Through PIVOT, they are supporting people at one of the most important points in their recovery: the journey home from hospital. This work goes far beyond transport. It is about safety, dignity, independence and making sure people have the practical and emotional support they need to settle back into their lives. Their award is a brilliant recognition of what can be achieved when organisations work together around the needs of their communities."
The partnership is helping address challenges faced by communities across Wales and the UK, including rural isolation, access to healthcare, and supporting people to live independently for longer.
Ady Poole, General Manager at PACTO, said: "We are incredibly proud to see the PIVOT transport partnership recognised nationally. This work is about making sure people are supported at the moments they need it most — whether that’s getting home safely from hospital or accessing urgent care. It’s a true partnership effort, we’re grateful to RVS and our wider partnership with West Wales Care and Repair and Volunteering Matters, who help ensure no one in Pembrokeshire is left without support."
Karyn Morris, Regional Manager at Royal Voluntary Service, said: "We at Royal Voluntary Service (RVS) are very proud of and grateful for the time given by our loyal staff and many volunteers. The support provided to the service users is only enhanced by the long-term partnership between PACTO and us. Over the many years that our volunteer drivers have been transporting people to and from hospital, we have received many letters and calls from people thanking us for the invaluable assistance that they have received, frequently saying that they do not know how they would have managed without the support of the volunteer."
The Community Transport Association Awards celebrate the people, organisations and partnerships making a difference through community-led transport. The awards celebrate the people, organisations and partnerships making a difference across community transport.
