Minibus Driver Awareness Scheme (MiDAS)

MiDAS Training - Minibus Driver and Passenger Assistant (PATS)

1 - Minibuses

Minibus Driver Awareness Scheme – MiDAS

Originally developed by Hampshire County Council, MiDAS is administered nationally by the Community Transport Association (CTAUK) and provides organisations with the means to assess and train all their minibus drivers. Information about MiDAS and related training modules is available from the Community Transport Association: www.ctauk.org/training/MiDAS.aspx

Drivers Assessor Training Agencies

A list of MiDAS Training Agencies is available at: www.ctauk.org/training/MiDAS-training-agencies.aspx

Driver Assessor/Trainers (DATS)

The following list is of approved MiDAS DATS trainers in the Nottinghamshire area:

MIDAS Minibus Module A – Standard and Module B - Accessible

• Clowne and District Community Transport tel: 01246 573 040

• Community Transport for Town and County tel: 01246 209668

• Don Stevenson tel: 01623 443448; Mobile: 07758 333754 (driving assessment only, classroom session by alternative arrangement)

• Doncaster Community Transport tel: 01308 342300

• Drive Safe (Gainsborough) tel: 01427 617855

• Erewash Community Transport tel: 0115 930 9134

• Nottinghamshire County Council tel: 0115 969 4390

• Our Centre, Kirkby in Ashfield tel: 01623 753 192

• Rotherham Community Transport tel: 01709 516092.

Thinking of becoming a Driver Assessor/Trainer?

The role of a Driver Assessor / Trainer is a responsible one which calls for a combination of skills. Good minibus driving skills are essential but it is equally important to have a proven ability to help others to learn. A checklist is available showing the skills and qualifications anyone wishing to join a MIDAS Driver Assessor/Trainer’s course should have: MiDAS Driver Assessor Trainers Workbook [PDF 1.5MB]

2 - Car and MPV

MiDAS car and MPV driving

MIDAS Car and MPV provides training opportunities for organisations operating smaller vehicles, or who co-ordinate volunteers in voluntary/community car schemes. This training is appropriate for drivers of smaller vehicles (ranging from saloon cars to wheelchair accessible vehicles) and offers similar high standards to those that MiDAS promotes, this also includes refresher training. For car scheme drivers driving their own vehicles, the observed drive is optional. For further information please see the Community Transport Association website: www.ctauk.org/training/car-and-mpv.aspx

Car and MPV trainers

The following gives information about approved MiDAS Car and MPV trainers in the Nottinghamshire area:

Non-observed training –
Rural Community Action Nottinghamshire (RCAN) tel: 01623 727600
Clowne and District Community Transport tel: 01246 573 040

Observed training –
Elspeth Mallowan tel: 01623 727626
Clowne and District Community Transport tel: 01246 573 040

3 - Passenger Assistants

Passenger Assistant Training Scheme - PATS

PATS, developed jointly by CTAUK and Hampshire County Council, provides a nationally recognised standard of training to people whose role it is to provide care and assistance to passengers travelling by road. The following modules are available:

A – Standard (for Passenger Assistants supervising mainstream passengers)

B1 – Accessible (for Passenger Assistants supervising disabled passengers)

B2 – Accessible (for Passenger Assistants supervising disabled passengers who travel in wheelchairs)

C1 – focussing on the care of Children with Special Needs

C2 – focussing on the needs of vulnerable Adults who need additional care and supervision i.e. with learning difficulties or dementia

For further information please see the Community Transport Association website: www.ctauk.org/training/pats.aspx

PATS Training Agencies

For further information please see the Community Transport Association website: www.ctauk.org/training/pats-training-agencies.aspx

The following organisations can deliver all modules of PATS training (see above for contact details):

• Clowne and District Community Transport
• Erewash Community Transport
• Nottinghamshire County Council
• Rural Community Action Nottinghamshire.