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About Us

Who are We?

Our Mission is providing a safe, reliable and courteous local bus, serving those rural and urban communities in our part of East Sussex not served by the commercial bus companies.
Our Vision is being the Community Bus Service of choice in our area.

We have been operating for over 45 years and run a small fleet of 16-seater mini-buses from our base in Berwick. We operate over 20 weekly timetabled services, requiring nearly twice as many half-day shifts, taking people to their nearest centres for shopping, appointments, or for pleasure. We also operate summer leisure services and offer private hire facilities. We provide special annual services for International Tennis in Eastbourne, and the Charleston festivals.

We are a Registered Charity (#1120494) and Company Limited by Guarantee (#06032000). Trustees (and Directors for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006) are:

  • Beryl Smith, Chair
  • Philip Ayers, Managing Director
  • Paul Warren, Finance Director
  • Wayne Evenden, Engineering Director
  • Nick Price, Personnel and Compliance Director and Co. Secretary

The company is run entirely by volunteers; there are no employees. We have some 40 fully trained drivers and some 8 additional volunteers who all help run the fleet and keep the wheels turning. Want to join us as a volunteer? See the 'volunteering' link below.

We are like any other bus company except we operate smaller buses to help reach parts other buses can't reach. E&W concessionary passes are accepted on all our timetabled services.

In a normal year we run some 125,000 miles and undertake over 80,000 passenger-journeys.

See our entry in the Charity Commission records:

Charity Commission

Read the Trustee's Report and Accounts:

2023 Report & Accounts 2022 Report & Accounts
2021 Report & Accounts
2020 Report & Accounts
2019 Report & Accounts

Who Supports Us?

The ongoing support from central government, local authorities and passengers helps meet our regular annual cash costs thereby ensuring the wheels on the buses keep turning.

In 2023 we received major contributions from DfT, ESCC, WDC and Hailsham and Seaford Town Councils; and donations from the following local town/parish councils: Alfriston, Arlington, Berwick, Cuckmere Valley, East Dean & Friston, Heathfield & Waldron, Herstmonceux, Long Man, Polegate, Willingdon & Jevington.

Passengers also kindly supported us last year by using the donation boxes on the buses.

Thanks to all contributors, who make our service possible.

Fundraising

If you would like to help meet our regular annual cash costs, you can do so in several ways:

Make a remote donation:

Donate to Cuckmere Buses

Donate: cash into the contribution boxes on all our buses.

Cheque: made payable to Cuckmere Buses and sent to: c/o Berwick Post Office, Station Road, Berwick, Polegate, BN26 6SZ.

Conditions of Carriage

Our Conditions of Carriage are available as a pdf document:

Conditions of Carriage Carriage of Wheelchairs

Volunteer Drivers Urgently Required

See our volunteering page to find out more:

Volunteering

Our Supporters