17 April 2026
Community First Shortlisted For National Transport Award
Community First is celebrating after being shortlisted for a prestigious national transport award, recognising excellence in community transport.
The Hampshire-wide organisation has been named a finalist for MiDAS Organisation of the Year at the CT26 Awards, run by the Community Transport Association – the UK’s leading membership body for community transport.
The award recognises organisations that demonstrate outstanding delivery of the Minibus Driver Awareness Scheme (MiDAS), the nationally recognised standard for minibus driver training. MiDAS plays a vital role in ensuring safe, responsible driving while helping people stay connected to essential services and their communities.
Finalists are selected for going beyond compliance, investing in driver development and using MiDAS to enhance safety, confidence and service quality across their operations.
Community First has a long-standing reputation as a leading provider of MiDAS training. In 2025, it further strengthened its role by becoming one of only a small number of centres in the UK authorised to train minibus driver assessors. The MiDAS training centre is used by schools, colleges, voluntary organisations – anyone using minibuses.
Tim Houghton, Chief Executive Officer at Community First, said: “We’re incredibly proud to be recognised on a national stage for our work supporting safe, confident and competent minibus driving across the community transport sector.
“This achievement reflects the dedication of our driver assessors and drivers, who uphold the highest MiDAS standards and help ensure we can continue providing vital transport services to those who need them most.”
MiDAS training is suitable for anyone who is required to drive a minibus as part of their role, including volunteers who drive for a community group or a paid driver working full time.
Community First MiDAS training and Driver Assessor training is based at Leigh Park Centre, near Havant.