COMMUNITY transport charity Wivey Link has closed for the festive season and will reopen on Monday, January 5.

The charity saw the last of more than 6,680 journeys in 2025 completed on Friday, December 19, with more than 56,600 miles covered across Wiveliscombe and the 10 Parishes.

Wivey Link’s iconic red fleet of vehicles helps combat rural isolation by way of a membership taxi service.

People can become members for an annual fee starting at £25, with journeys then costing £1.60 a mile.

During the past year, Wivey Link saw 97 new passengers join the transport scheme and 10 new drivers were trained and on the road, volunteering to help their community.

Eight volunteers worked in the office answering calls and taking bookings, and the charity added a new wheelchair accessible vehicle to its fleet thanks to a successful bid to the Government’s Rural England Prosperity Fund.

The new vehicle has allowed the charity to expand its operational area so it covers from Uffculme and Willand in the Culm Valley to the Quantock Hills to the West Somerset coast and southern Exmoor.

A spokesperson said: “As we look back at the successes of 2025 and the support that we have offered our community, all thanks to our many volunteers, donors, and funders.

“This year, our fantastic volunteer drivers undertook 6,683 journeys across Wiveliscombe and the 10 Parishes, covering 56,607 miles.”

The spokesperson highlighted that for every £1 charged by Wivey Link in fares, it cost the charity £2 to keep the car on the road.

They said: “If you want to support our work, you can do so by joining our team of volunteer drivers, you can donate, or you can simply help by telling people about our service.

“We are open to everybody living in the 10 Parishes regardless of age or circumstance.”