It’s an MBE for Bob!
Bob the Bus, operated by Totnes and Rural Community Transport, has received a King’s Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS).
This is a fantastic tribute to everyone involved with Bob the Bus over its 30-year history – volunteer drivers, trustees, coordinators, passengers and supporters. It’s also a celebration of the more than
1500 community transport groups in the UK, all of which are helping to meet local accessibility needs.
Equivalent to an MBE, KAVS is the highest Award given to local voluntary groups in the UK, and it’s awarded for life. Created in 2002 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee and previously known as The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS), the Award has been shining a light on the fantastic work of voluntary groups from across the UK for many years. Bob the Bus was nominated for an award in December 2024. We were visited by representatives of the Devon Lieutenancy in February 2025. They conducted a detailed assessment of what we do and how we do it, and spent some time meeting trustees, volunteers and some of our regular passengers and Travel Club members. A report was submitted to the KAVS National Assessors, and we were notified of Royal Approval in October 2025.
Bob the Bus currently has 35 volunteers (mostly drivers) and only 2 part-time paid staff. It operates scheduled services Monday to Saturday in and around Totnes, and is the only public transport giving access to the busy Fore Street and High Street. There are also services to Stoke Gabriel, Ashprington and Cornworthy. Travel Club members enjoy regular day trips to local places of interest, and our yellow buses serve the Christmas markets, Totnes Show and other community events.
Every day, millions of people across the UK are making a difference by volunteering. Each year, outstanding examples of this work are celebrated through the King’s Award for Voluntary Service
(KAVS).
Bob the Bus is always looking for new volunteers to make a huge difference for the Totnes community , so please get in touch if you have a few hours to spare.
totnescommunitytransport@gmail.com
www.bobthebus.org.uk