Uppingham Hopper bus service receives funding for the next year

A mystery donor has helped to secure the future of a community bus service.

The Uppingham Hopper was set up four years ago with the help of a £25,000 loan from Rutland County Council.

Last month an anonymous woman offered to clear the remaining £5,000 of debt if the committee could raise enough money to cover the running costs for the next 12 months.

After securing £9,830 from the National Lottery, the Hopper team has raised enough money to run the bus during 2022 and the woman has kept her promise.

The National Lottery money was awarded to cover the cost of fuel, volunteer training, insurance and maintenance.

Volunteer David Ainslie said: “Thanks to the lottery funding and the donation, the service can definitely continue for the next 12 months which is fantastic news for all who use it.

“The Hopper isn’t just about providing the transport to get people from A to B, it’s about social interaction.

“For some people, the driver will be the only person they see all day. It’s an important place for them to meet people and have a chance to talk.”

Before the pandemic the Hopper was used for around 7,5000 journeys each year.

The number has dropped to around 2,500 per year, but the volunteers hope to see more people return.

David said: “Passenger numbers dropped because of the pandemic and not everyone has returned.

“We are hopeful that people will come back but they need to feel confident getting on the bus and visiting the places that they used to go to.”

As a result of the decline in passenger numbers, the Uppingham Hopper has reduced its operating times from 10am until 4pm from Monday to Friday.

It previously ran from 9am until 5pm.