About Us

CT4N Charitable Trust (formerly Nottingham Community Transport) – is a small charity based in Nottingham that provides a range of transport solutions to reduce social isolation and promote community cohesion across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.  We’ve been providing services for over 43 years.  Our range of services include the operating the Easylink service on behalf of Nottingham City Council and also providing a Group Travel service for community and voluntary groups.

CT4N Ltd. is the trading company for CT4N Charitable Trust and supports the work of our charity.  We operate a range of contracted services for a number of clients including Nottingham City Council, Nottinghamshire County Council, Derbyshire County Council, Nottingham High School and SEGRO.  CT4N also operates a number of commercial services across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.  All of our drivers undergo an enhanced DBS check, and are provided with a smart company uniform and undertake regular training. We have various operating centres across Nottinghamshire including Sherwood, Queen’s Drive and Mansfield Woodhouse.  So, if your looking for a transport solution, then CT4N will have the answer.

Company History from 1979 to current day

1979

Formed as Nottingham Voluntary Transport with 2 wheelchair accessible and 2 standard minibuses. This was based in the car park of Sherwood Community Centre.

1982

The concept of Dial A Ride was introduced with another 2 vehicles.

1986

The company moved to the Trent depot at Manvers Street due to fuel thefts at the Sherwood Community Centre.

1988

Nottingham Community Transport became a limited company and registered charity. The fleet was increased and renewed. 

1989

The company moved to Medway Street at Lenton where it shared the Social Services depot.

1992

The company moved to a unit in Hooton Street.

1998

The company moved to its present location at Sherwood Garage, which was one of the former depots that once was the home of Nottingham City Transport.

1999

The company operated a full size Bova Futura coach for a year under the Handicruiser brand.

2003

Introduction of the first Locallink service under the Mybus brand. Route 801 was Mapperley to Sherwood. This route changed over the years to become Service L8 before ending in 2017. The original driver of this service still works for us today!

2004

Up until the tram started in this year, the company operated a wheelchair accessible Park and Ride from the Forest Ground into the City Centre.

2005

More Locallink services were introduced (L1, L2, L5 and L6) and the Mybus branding was dropped in favour of Locallink.

2008

Route L7 was added to the Locallink network. Funding was granted from Age Concern to purchase a Group Hire vehicle.

2013

Following the collapse of Premiere Travel service L64 was transferred to Nottingham Community Transport. L33 service was taken over from Nottingham City Transport. Queens Drive Compound was opened to accommodate the growing fleet of electric buses. Electric Optare Solo buses were added to the fleet and were introduced on to a number of routes.

2014

Group Travel vehicles were upgraded, Medilink services were transferred to Nottingham Community Transport from NHS Trust and electric Optare Versa buses were introduced. Services L73/4/5 were introduced in Netherfield/Burton Joyce- our first contract for Nottinghamshire County Council. Clifton Shuttle, introduced for the Tram works in Clifton (service was due to last only 3 months but continued for 18 months). Eventlink introduced on behalf of NET, transferring customers from Tram stop in City to Victoria Embankment. Further electric buses added to fleet to become Europe’s largest operator of electric buses.

2015

Launch of Robin Hood Card. Gold award winner in the UK Bus Awards- Environment category, alongside Nottingham City Council. Service L2 replaced with L22/L23, giving the customers a greater choice in the West Bridgford area. New Services L3, L4, L9, L12, W1, W2 were introduced. Largest increase in the recruitment of drivers following awards of new services. Nottingham Community Transport join the Kangaroo/Plusbus schemes. New INIT ticket machines allowing Real Time functionalities introduced. Dial-A-Ride rebranded as Easylink with new vehicles, booking system and many barriers removed.

2016

Further improvements to Medilink service, with more buses early morning and evening. UK Bus awards- Finalists in the category ‘Putting Passengers First’ for Easylink service. As part of the partnership between Nottingham Community Transport, Nottingham City Council and University of Nottingham service L12 becomes free for all students. MP Lilian Greenwood visited Sherwood Depot to have a look at the Easylink Service Improvements to L1 Service for local schools and residents of Wilford and Silverdale. 13 New BYD Buses delivered as part of the contract for operating Centrelink and Ecolink. Easylink shortlisted at the UK Bus Awards under the 'Putting Passengers First' category. CT4N registered as a new business which would become the trading arm of Nottingham Community Transport.

2017

Centrelink and Ecolink services start operating which are the first electric Park and Ride services in the UK. New partnership launched with Space Inclusive to prove transport for clients with learning disabilities.

2018

CT4N officially launched on the 1st January with all contracted bus services transferring to the new commercial arm. Nottingham Community Transport purchased a new minibus for the Group Travel service, with support from the Postcode Lottery. Connecting Communities initiative launched by Nottingham Community Transport to tackle the ongoing issue of reducing social exclusion and loneliness. CT4N purchases it’s very first buses and starts operating its first commercial bus service - service 18 between the City, Beeston Rylands and Stapleford. New Shopper services launched to provide links to major supermarkets from some of Nottinghamshire’s outlying villages. CT4N undertook its biggest investment to date with the launch of new ticket machines from December 2022 which were capable of handling contactless payments.

2019

New partnership launched with Nottingham Music Hub to provide minibuses for after school services in Nottingham. New service launched with Age UK Nottingham and Nottinghamshire to provide transport services to their dementia specialist day service at the Sybil Levin Centre. New partnership formed with Radford Care Group to provide transport for clients attending their day centre in Radford. CT4N commercial service 33 introduced between Cropwell Bishop, Cotgrave, Tollerton, West Bridgford and Nottingham. New partnership launched with Nottingham High School to provide transport for pupils. Centrelink and Ecolink services withdrawn and Locallink services reduced due to budget reductions by Nottingham City Council. New contracted services for Derbyshire County Council commenced in Long Eaton, Sandiacre and Ilkeston. New service commenced at the SEGRO Logistics Park to serve the new development at East Midlands Gateway.

CT4N invest in new ticket machines provided by Ticketer allowing customers to pay for their journey contactless and opening up new opportunities to grow our services.

2020

New streamlined management structure implemented to bring both CT4N and Nottingham Community under one leadership team. New operating centres for CT4N registered at East Midlands Gateway and Mansfield Woodhouse. New commercial service S16 launched in Long Eaton. CT4N’s very first double decker introduced for school service in Mansfield. During the Covid Pandemic, services provided by the Charity are changed to provide essential services for people having to self-isolate. This includes carrying out shopping, collection of prescriptions and delivery of meals. The operating area for Nottingham Community Transport is amended to cover Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. CT4N Travel launched to provide a wide range of trips, holidays and excursions.

The worldwide covid pandemic saw our lives change forever. CT4N Charitable Trust adapted the way in which it delivered its services by assisting with shopping and collecting prescriptions for those who were clinically vulnerable. At Christmas time, we ensured the most vulnerable received festive hampers. We also assisted with delivering hot meals to residents in Bestwood and Sherwood.

2021

Charity Co-ordinator, Elaine Allitt, wins the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport’s ‘Hidden Hero’ award for going the extra mile to help our most vulnerable customers during the Covid Pandemic. New Community Transport minibus service launched in Mansfield, to provide transport for Covid vaccinations. Easylink contracted awarded for a further 5 years. Nottingham Community Transport renamed to CT4N Charitable Trust.

CTN alongside Robin Hood Network Partners provide trainee guide dogs and their trainers free travel as part of their vital training towards becoming a guide dog.

2022

Following on from her success in 2021, Charity Co-ordinator scooped the award for key worker in the BBC Radio Nottingham's Make a Difference Awards.

The aftermath of the Covid Pandemic start to impact on several services being withdrawn due to low usage and staff shortages which would become commonplace amongst all bus operators across the UK. CT4N continued to be successful with the award of new tendered service 300 connecting villages between Lowdham and Newark. CT4N were also part of the launch of Nottingham Contactless making it even easier for customers travelling on bus and tram services. CT4N Charitable Trust joined forces with Nottingham Community and Voluntary Services (NCVS) to provide transport for patients whom were prescribed nature based activities. CT4N also joined many other operators across the UK with the Help for Household £2 capped bus fares initiative.

CT4N alongside Nottingham City Transport and Nottingham Express Trams (NET) launch Nottingham Contactless, becoming the first multi-operator ticketing system in the United Kingdom outside London.

2023

CT4N undertook the biggest upgrade to Service 18 since the service was taken over in 2018 restoring connections between Beeston and Wollaton six days per week. New Service 18x was launched to provide a commuter service from the new housing estate in Stapleford. CT4N Charitable Trust joined in the celebrations to mark the first ever National Transport (CT) week by offering a free trip for all registered service users of Easylink, which was supported by Nottingham City Council. The charity also operated its largest programme of day trips since before the Covid Pandemic to the welcome of our service users. Five years since the launch of CT4N, a brand new livery was introduced and to be rolled out across the fleet.

CT4N launches CT4N Training to provide both internal and external training so that all MiDAS, CPC and Driver Training could operate 'in house' rather than using external contractors. CT4N invest in driver rostering with the introduction of Omnibus Solutions to maximise efficiency savings across the business. 

2024

CT4N started the year positively with the renewal of the tender alongside SEGRO & Petersen Associates operating the Gateway Shuttle. Two brand new Yutong 100% electric buses joined the fleet in March to replace the former vehicles operating on this service.

The first CT4N Long Service Awards takes place in March 2024 to recognise the service provided by our teams.

CT4N were successful in the retender process of the Locallink services and for the tender of operating our first service in Leicestershire with the award of Service 866, providing peak time connections between Sutton Bonington and Loughborough Town Centre.

CT4N secured a long term contract with Nottingham High School to provide all home to school transport for three years.

CT4N and Nottinghamshire County Council review service 866 and in partnership re-brand the service ROUTE 66 from late October providing more journeys during the day between Sutton Bonington and Loughborugh. 

Following the collapse of Derbyshire Community Transport, CT4N began operating on behalf of Derbyshire County Council Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) services and Shopper services to expand on the services provided in Greater Derbyshire.

CT4N ends 2024 with a tender award for Services 510/511 which operate in the Beeston, Attenborough, Toton and Stapleford areas of Greater Nottinghamshire.