Each year, the Council organises a series of free excursions for the senior citizens who live in our Parish. It is one of the most popular events organised by the Council.
Application forms are now available from the Library in Central Avenue, Recreation Centre in Beveridge Way, Oakleaf Sports Complex or Great Aycliffe Town Council Offices, School Aycliffe Lane. The forms can also be downloaded from the Council’s website www.great-aycliffe.gov.uk
The closing date for applications is Wednesday 4th May 2016.
To be eligible, you do not have to be drawing your pension or have a bus pass, but you do have to be a resident of the electoral parish and 60 years old with a date of birth on or before 31st March 1956 (applies to both men and women). If you are in any doubt, please telephone 01325 300700 and we will check your eligibility.
This year, residents will be able to choose from Northumberland, Scarborough, Edinburgh, Blackpool, Lake District or South Shields.
Our ’trippers’ have the choice of venue for the day with a three course meal and tea or coffee provided in a good quality establishment usually with disabled facilities. Most of the excursions also call in for a comfort stop with refreshments provided on the way to or from the main destination.
The coaches provided are 49-53 seater executive coaches with toilet facilities. There is also a 53 seater executive coach with a wheelchair hoist to each destination. This ensures that even people with severe mobility problems can enjoy a day out. The hoist can be used for loading wheelchairs for those residents who need to travel in their wheelchair, or for use by people who cannot manage the steps on the coach.
Each person who qualifies is entitled to one ‘trip’. To qualify you must be aged 60 or over and must have lived in the electoral parish by 1st April in the year of travel.