Rural Access to Opportunities Programme

The Rural Access to Opportunities Programme (RAOP) helps connect people with places, and more importantly, with work and training. The aim of the programme is to tackle rural unemployment, support rural enterprise and enable more people to access services. RAOP is a region-wide scheme, though the exact nature of the scheme differs. 

West Yorkshire

A contract is in place with Calderdale MBC to manage delivery of the following services:

  • Access to training & employment (this is primarily transport administered by the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive e.g. Wheel to Work schemes);
  • Access to services (delegated fund to improve rural communities’ access to services e.g. provision of mobile services, or collocation of services in hubs);
  • Support for Sub regional rural partnerships.

Barnsley, Sheffield and Rotherham

The Access to Opportunities project, being managed by South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE), is providing a range of interventions across the sub-region.

  • The main focus of the project is to improve access to the Junction 35a industrial park through a regular bus service starting in Chapeltown. This route was identified as the best site for the service as Chapeltown acts as a transport hub for the South Yorkshire region.  The 35a service started on the 26th October 2009;
  • Additional work is being conducted to improve the cycle facilities across the sub-region.

North Yorkshire

A contract is in place with North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) to manage delivery of the following services:

  • Access to training & employment (this is primarily transport e.g. Wheels to Work schemes);
  • Access to services (delegated fund to improve rural communities access to services e.g. provision of mobile services, or collocation of services in hubs)
  • Support for Sub regional rural partnerships.

Humber

A contract is in place with East Riding of Yorkshire Council to manage delivery of the following services:

  • Access to training & employment (this is primarily transport administered by the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive e.g. Wheels to Work schemes);
  • Access to services (delegated fund to improve rural communities access to services e.g. provision of mobile services, or collocation of services in hubs);
  • Support for Sub regional rural partnerships.