A WEST Devon theatre company for people with learning disabilities is celebrating ownership of its own mini-bus, thanks to the generosity of an Okehampton-based group.

Get Changed, which has 16 performing members from the Tavistock and Okehampton areas, was given the bus by Okehampton Disabled Fellowship, which has recently closed down.

Vicky Hooper, co-ordinator of Get Changed, said: 'It's fantastic, we are really over the moon about it.

'Having our own bus means we no longer have to rely on or pay for other people's transport and the group can move around more flexibly and freely.

'The whole group were astonished and delighted by the kindness of the Fellowship, who specifically wanted to give the bus to others with disabilities.'

Get Changed was formed in 1995 with a small group of around five or six clients. It meets every Wednesday at the Alexander Centre in Tavistock and works throughout the year to develop performances which travel to venues all over the county.

Vicky said: 'Obviously we need transport for this and it's always been a problem, but having our own bus now is amazing.'

Get Changed offers taster sessions for everyone, regardless of their disability, and to a large extent is run by the clients themselves.

Vicky said: 'It's a tremendous confidence booster, it's wonderful for self-esteem, leadership skills and group work.

'People get such a sense of achievement out of a performance — when the audience claps at the end of a show, their faces light up, it's just amazing.'

The new challenge for Get Changed now it has its own transport is sourcing funding to help with the running costs.

Get Changed is totally reliant on grants — it has previously attracted Comic Relief funding but now a two year grant from LLoyds TSB is due to run out and Vicky said the group is desperate to attract new sponsors.

Get Changed will be fundraising to keep their new bus running and hopes other organisations may be interested in hiring the vehicle, which will be kept at The Leaze in Okehampton.

'When not being used by Get Changed, it will mean wider access to the community,' said Vicky.

Any organisation which would like to support Get Changed, or who is interested in hiring the bus, which has full disabled access, should contact Vicky Hooper on 01837 54133.