POD shared transport – Co‑op cars that save money and the planet

Nestled in the scenic Calder Valley in West Yorkshire, Hebden Bridge and Todmorden are picturesque Pennine towns with heaps of charm and community spirit.

It’s here that car sharing scheme POD (Calder Valley Shared Transport) came to life when a previous community car club was facing closure. 

In May 2024, a group of four locals came together to explore saving the old car club. “It quickly became clear that we needed a fresh start and a financially sustainable organisation,” said POD co‑founder Rose Wheeler.

With a shared commitment to sustainability and community action – and drawing from the Calder Valley’s deep‑rooted tradition of co‑operatives, they decided to establish a new organisation that could not only survive – but thrive.

“There wasn’t a lot of discussion, we knew we wanted to be fully co‑operative,” Rose said. “In a valley with a strong tradition of co‑op organisations, it was the natural route.” 

“Living in an area where people are familiar with investing in community enterprises – like the Fox and Goose pub and Heptonstall Post Office – meant we had a good foundation,” said Rose.

To do this – and launch a share offer to raise capital for the new business – the POD team applied for help from the Business Support for Co‑ops programme, delivered by Co‑operatives UK in partnership with The Co‑operative Bank. 

Their application was successful, and the team received consultancy from Alex Lawrie, a specialist in transport co‑operatives. “He advised us on our business planning and was instrumental in our decision‑making process,” Rose said. 

Additionally, POD used Co‑operatives UK’s registration service – significantly subsidised by The Co‑operative Bank – to register as a community benefit society with the Financial Conduct Authority. Co‑operative UK’s Advice Team assisted with drafting their rules, provided governance advice and dealt with the FCA as registrar on their behalf. 

Alex also helped them assess two different digital platforms they were considering for running the car club: Chinese owned CoWheels or the European co‑operative The Mobility Factory (TMF).

“We opted for TMF. It’s also a co‑op, so as part of our formation, we bought shares in it and became members,” Rose said.

The team’s planning and preparation paid off. By the time they launched their community share offer in November 2024, they had already secured a £100,000 Rural Prosperity Fund grant, giving them the capital needed to buy five nearly new hybrid vehicles.

The share offer went on to raise over £26,000 from 88 investors, many of them local residents and future users of the service. 

This sum paid for start‑up costs including insurance, signage, marketing and staff. “We always planned to hire a part‑time manager, which we did at the end of January 2025,” said Rose.

Since launching, POD has steadily grown. With around 25 active users and new members joining each week, the initiative is already delivering environmental and social benefits.

The club offers a meaningful alternative to car ownership, supporting residents who want a more sustainable lifestyle. For some, it’s a crucial service: helping larger families, older residents and environmentally conscious users maintain mobility without the cost and emissions of owning a second car.

“People are thrilled we’ve got a high‑tech model with app‑based booking, fuel cards, hybrid automatics, roof bars for bikes and estate cars for dogs,” Rose said. 

Sam, a POD user from Todmorden, said: “I joined a car club as the cost‑of‑living crisis was hitting and I couldn’t justify paying to run a car by myself. Joining POD would allow me to keep doing things I need while saving myself more than £1,000 a year.”

Jamie from Hebden Bridge said: “I work from home most of the time so don’t need to travel by car very often. But when I do, to see family, for days out or for trips to the garden centre – being in a car club has been a massive help. It’s great to know it’s reducing the number of cars on the roads as well.”

And it’s not just about cars – it’s about community. The CBS model enables broad participation, with many users also becoming shareholders and volunteers helping with car checks and operations.

“The co‑op model has huge advantages. The ability for the community to invest, engage and feel ownership of the project is the essence of what makes it work,” said Rose. “It’s the right ethos for something built around sharing and sustainability. It’s simply the right model for a project like this.”

Find out more

POD Calder Valley Shared Transport – Website | Facebook | Instagram | Bluesky