NCT work with Nottingham Mencap to Film Driver Training DVD

Nottingham City Transport and Nottingham Mencap are working together to film a training DVD to help bus drivers recognise people with learning disabilities and how they can help customers further by offering appropriate support.

This initiative forms part of a much wider “Smile, No Bullying” campaign, a partnership project between Nottingham City Council, Nottinghamshire County Council and Nottingham Mencap, which aims to tackle bullying and harassment towards people with learning disabilities.

On Friday 16 July 2010, over 25 adults with learning disabilities will take part in producing the DVD, which will be filmed on a Nottingham City Transport bus in the City Centre and at Victoria Embankment.

Three different scenarios will be filmed to go on the DVD, outlining possible difficulties customers may face and the participant’s recommended way to handle it. All 25 adults will be involved in the DVD and will perform different customer and driver roles throughout.

Kirsty Mills, the Smile, No Bullying Worker, commented, “Each of the adults participating in the film have experienced problems on buses in the past and are very passionate and excited to be taking part to express their views. By working together with Nottingham City Transport, we hope that in the future the drivers will have a better understanding of what it means to have a learning disability and they will know how to help them better.”

The DVD will be issued to NCT bus drivers and will be added to the New Driver Induction and Training Programme, alongside existing training on disability awareness.

Anthony Carver-Smith, Marketing Manager for NCT said, “We have developed very strong links with Nottingham Mencap in recent years as we work closely to resolve the issues customers have faced on our buses. Lots of work has gone on behind the scenes with driver customer service and disability awareness to enhance the customer experience on our buses and this DVD is part of the step to develop this further”.

View the video on You Tube www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oYVQKjtemw

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