University projects helps scoop £1m investment
A tourism project led by Nottingham Trent University has received a £1m funding boost from the Department for Transport (DfT).
The scheme, which aims to increase the number of people visiting the Yorkshire Dales, won the investment after the univesity's research ‘Connected to the Dales’ was presented to the DfT.
Dr John Disney, from the university's business school and bus provider Dales & Bowland Community Interest Company (DBCIC), created the joint venture to target disadvantaged children and their families with a 'Day out in the Dales' experience.
The project resulted in a 45 per cent increase in visits to the national park. It went on to form part of a joint bid through the Dales Integrated Transport Alliance with Metro (West Yorkshire Integrated Transport Authority) and the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, to the DfT Local Sustainable Transport Fund.
The organisation will now receive £1.1m over the next four years.
Colin Speakman, chairman of DBCIC, said: "Support from the university and expert help from Dr Disney for the DalesBus project have done much to raise the profile of the network, and its ability to reach out to less fortunate and less mobile members of society. This has undoubtedly been a factor that has helped to support this successful funding award."
