Our history
Established in 1998 and launched on 30 April 1999, 2023 saw WATBus celebrating its 25th anniversary providing quality affordable community transport. Since it was founded, it has evolved in response to demand and now enhances the quality of life of people with different abilities and challenges across much of Northumberland and the surrounding areas.
The charity has grown gradually and organically and now has a fleet of 19 minibuses (5 accessible vehicles with tail lifts) and two cars for use by community groups and individuals across Northumberland, North and South Tyneside and beyond.
We added WATBike to our offering in 2010 after being given a bike trailer and wondered what to do with it! Which is when we started the cycle transport side of our operation. It wasn’t long before we were being asked for routes, training programmes and for assistance with mapping and guiding… and so WATBike was officially born in 2010. Since then, we’ve grown into the recognised and respected organisation we are today – and have had lots of fun and good times along the way!
In 2023, the team launched WATBreak, a caravan on the Northumberland coast providing affordable breaks for people in the community which will be available to use from 2024.