to ask about subsidised driving lessons?

[BloodyEnderDragons]

Rural living isn't easy if people don't drive. My friend has found herself in a situation with no partner (a recent development), children to get here there and everywhere, a baby on the way and no transport. There are busses three days a week into town - one out, one back on each day so no flexibility in times.

She has no shop within 5 miles, nor a park for the children, post office, nothing at all really. Her partner did drive so it wasn't a huge issue.

She will no doubt be on income support as well as the usual tax credits etc.

As I'm (thankfully) rather clueless about benefits and low income, I'm asking here. Is there any way she could be able to ask for subsidised driving lessons via some kind of scheme? She has experienced PND in the past and really needs the ability to get out by herself.

Moving house is an option, but one that hasn't been able to happen yet.

I don't think there is such a thing tbh.
If she can't afford the lessons then how would she afford to buy and keep a car? Would that be subsidised too?

Tbh if she can't afford driving lessons how will she be able to afford to buy, insure and maintain a car?

Seems we were both thinking the same thing!

That is true. I would let her borrow mine to be honest but I see the reasoning.

A bus 3 times a week?? Where is that? Would she not prefer to be nearer to people? It sounds very isolated.

This is why people move out of the country. Its why I moved to a city near the hospital. Its sad but rural poverty is no joke.

Your poor friend , it must be so stressful especially with baby on the way. She really needs to move, how will she be able to get to the hospital?

There's no such thing. And if there were, how would she be able to buy and run a car? She needs to start making arrangements to move.

It doesn't sound like a great life to be honest, for her or the kids.

Is there any chance of her moving in the near future?

I think even if she di manage to have driving lessons and get herself a car it would still be a pretty miserable sounding existence. Why would you want to live 5 miles from a shop and not have a park nearby? What would she do if she/the children/all of them got ill and she ran out of food and so on? How do the children make friends with others outside of school?

Is there any way for her to move?

Can her ex help her find a new area to move to?

Where we used to live had a regular bus service, in to town early on market day and back late the same day. Then it was axed and the bus shelter was removed as, apparently, it was only used once a week!

Many rural areas have very few or no regular bus service at all.

But no instructor would offer a reduced price and there isn't a government scheme to get people driving. That and, as others have said, it would be of little use to her anyway. The cost of running a car would be extortionate.

She really needs to move. To find somewhere where she will have more accessible support.

I think being disabled is the only way to get susidised lessons. My friend got it when she was awarded the mobility element of disability benefits.

We have a rural transport scheme which is a large mini bus you can book onto - she should see if there's something in the area

I agree that if she can't afford lessons it's unlikely she can afford to run a car anyway. If she does find enough money to run a car, then could she have a friend give her lessons with just the odd 'proper' lesson by an instructor so she understands the test standards required?

She should speak to her midwife about her situation to see what help can be had to move.

Decisionsdecisions123 I'd rather not say where. There are many seas like that around here though, the council stopped support for many of the services some years ago.

Alwayshopeful well I guess I'll take her, or she'll have to phone for an ambulance which obviously isn't ideal.

They were moving very soon to a highly populated area with everything within walking distance. Unfortunately the other party has pulled out.

Hi Op I didn't expect you to tell us exactly where you were, I am just wondering where on earth in the Uk you have to live to get a bus only 3 times a week. Even once a day sounds quite unbearable. I'm used to buses coming and going all the time. If we have to wait more than 10 minutes its shocking!

There is a school bus for to and fro, it's actually very good.

Okay, it's a village with about 200 people.

Think she might have to move house. Hth