In recognition of their volunteer’s social support of local people in the rural South Kirklees areas, the Denby Dale Centre recently benefitted from the DFT funding. They choose Mellor’s Orion Lite which has a distinct advantage for non-profit organisations; it can be driven on a standard driving licence saving the costs of upgrading to a D1 licence of up to £1000 per driver.

The Mellor Orion Lite offers many versatile seating options to accommodate up to 16 seat plus the driver or up to 4 wheelchairs and the low floor and single step or ramp side entry and rear ramp makes the Mellor Orion Lite easily accessible to all passengers, regardless of mobility.

The Denby Dale Centre’s Orion Lite vehicle will help to improve quality of life and reduce isolation in the community and will be utilised in transport services including Ring and Ride to help people to make short local journeys to shop, visit hospitals and take part in social and leisure activities. The vehicle is based on a Fiat Ducato Maxi and has many features including a manual gearbox, tachograph, cab air conditioning system, rapid side sliding electric door, 2 x manual rear doors, front Ramp with centre handle, 2.5m long fold out ramp to rear, lift up roof hatch and powered extractor fan.