How the DVSA are dealing with bots and the reselling of tests
The high waiting times for driving test appointments has led to a rise in the use of automated bots that exploit learner drivers.
Revolution Events – Emily & Izzy
Emily Taylor, Group Event Manager and Izzy, Senior Marketing Executive at Revolution Events
Announcing our new range of clothing
The Community Driving School are pleased to announce the launch of their online CDS clothing shop.
Rural Business Awards East 2021
Best Rural Social Enterprise, Charity or Community Project
Kent Mental Health & Wellbeing Awards 2021
Thanet’s activity coordinator of the year – for the business sector – is The Community Driving School CIC
Best Day Ever
John writes… Saturday 18th September 2021, was one of the greatest in the history of what I do at Community Driving School CIC. Sophie passed her test on the very first attempt...
DVLA COVID Update
As England follows the Government’s roadmap out of coronavirus restrictions, the DVLA has said driving lessons can being on Monday, April 12. Driving tests will return two weeks later on Monday, April 26...
DVSA COVID Update
DVSA tweet update 24/02/21: In line with the government’s roadmap announcement, driving & theory tests will resume no earlier than 12 April in England...
We’re teaming up with a top racing driver!
CDS has appointed the incredibly talented Shanel Drewe as our first ambassador. CDS is the UK’s first EVER Not-For-Profit Driving School. It was founded in May 2017 by CEO John Nicholson, following a suicide attempt in 2014...
New Tier 4 restrictions introduced by the Government
The Prime Minister has announced new Tier 4 restrictions in England to control the spread of coronavirus. From Sunday 20 December, London, together with parts of the South East and East of England, will enter Tier 4...
CDS Win Lotus Award for Innovation 2020
The Community Driving School are proud to announce their success in winning the Lotus Award for Innovation 2020. The Innovation award recognises and celebrates the very best new innovations...
Meet Annelies
Meet the newest member of the family, Annelies. We would like to say a massive thank you to all of our sponsors and everyone who has donated to us. We really could not do it without you! You can donate by being a member for as little as £10 a month...
Rustrick Accountants Limited – Sean Rustrick
What is your name and position within your company? Sean Rustrick Director owner What is the name of your Company and how long have you been involved with it? Rustrick Accountants Limited started in 2016 What does your company do and what makes it so special? Chartered Accountancy is what we do and each client is a member of the Rustrick accountants family where reducing tax is our speciality...
Community Driving School CIC Shortlisted for 2020 Small Award
LONDON, 10TH JUNE 2020: COMMUNITY DRIVING SCHOOL CIC (CDS) based in HERNE BAY KENT has been nominated for the MISSION POSSIBLE AWARD at The Small Awards 2020...
Driving tests suspended for up to 3 months
Announcement from the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency Driving tests suspended for up to 3 months – tests for critical workers to continue and be prioritised We are suspending driving tests for up to 3 months from Saturday 21 March 2020 as there is extended contact between candidates and examiners in vehicles...
Theory tests cancelled for 4 weeks
Announcement from the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency Due to the unfolding COVID-19 situation, from Friday 20 March 2020, all theory tests have been postponed until Monday 20 April 2020...
Congratulations Alex
Many congratulations to Alex for passing his test yesterday at Herne Bay. Fantastic drive and it has been a genuine pleasure for me and the team at Community Driving School to be part of your training...
Congratulations Zoe
Congratulations to Zoe for passing her driving test. This wouldn’t have been possible without our many sponsors and we can only thank them for their generous community-mindedness...
Meet Grace – a Community Driving School Pupil
This incredible young woman is so very inspiring and we cannot help her without our generous sponsors and the community we live in. We are working with her to give her an opportunity in life and we are so proud of her progress...
Broome Park Hotel – Tyler Christy
What is your name and position within your company? Tyler Christy – Sales Manager What is the name of your company and how long have you been involved with it? Broome Park Hotel...
Small Business Saturday
We are very proud to announce that the Community Driving School CIC has been selected as one of only 100 companies to be part of Small Business Saturday UK for 2019...
Broome Park Hotel – John Woodward
We welcome Broome Park Hotel as a new sponsor of Community Driving School.
AT Accounts – Amanda Taylor
Meet Amanda Taylor from AT Accounts Ltd, a brand new sponsor of Community Driving School. Find out more about Amanda and why she is sponsoring us.
Well Done Tony!
Well, today has been emotional and I am very proud to say that Community Driving School has achieved a first for us. Tony doesn’t mind me saying he is the elder statesmen of pupils I have trained...
Community Driving School CIC is nominated for the Mission Possible at The Small Awards
Community Driving School CIC have been nominated for the Mission Possible award for the best social enterprise at The Small Awards.
Congratulations Rhya!
Huge congratulations to Rhya for passing her test in Herne Bay today. It’s amazing how much pressure you can put yourself under and it makes the test harder...
The Chance of a New Life
We are incredibly proud to announce that our Award Winning Community Driving School has just given a young man named Ryan the chance of a new life. In Ryan’s own words “Thank you so much, without John & CDS, I wouldn’t be here now...
FSB Awards Finalist
We are regional finalists, South East in the Federation of Small Businesses Community Award. This is so incredible and humbling for a Community focused business such as ours...
Winner Best Start-Up Business – Canterbury Business Awards 2019
“Changing lives is what Community Driving School does and we have been recognised for that. To anybody with serious mental health issues, you can get through this...
CS Creative Studio – Colin Swaffer
Meet our latest sponsor Colin Swaffer from CS Creative Studio. Find out more about Colin here.
Support the Community Driving School with the Dover District Lotto
The first Dover District Lotto draw will be on Saturday 2nd March. Set up to support community projects in the local area, the Dover District Lotto operates on the principle of raising money within the community for the community...
Congratulations Chanise
So proud that Chanise overcame her nerves to pass her driving test. It has been nothing short of inspirational to see her develop the confidence to overcome her anxiety and drive really well...
The BIG IDEAS Show
John was interviewed by Liu Batchelor of The BIG IDEAS Show… Driving Young People out of Poverty In one of the most powerful, inspiring, and moving interviews to date, John shares his story of why and how he came to set up The Community Driving School...
Well done Isobel
Isobel passed her test at Herne Bay and I am so thrilled with the way she achieved this. She was nervous but she overcame this and what a fantastic drive...
Well done Billy
Really well done to Billy who yesterday passed his test at the first attempt. I worked with Billy on an intensive course which suited him and it culminated in us driving to and around London...
Winter 2018 Sponsors’ Newsletter
Community Driving School is very proud to be the first of its kind in the world. This has only been possible thanks to the generosity of our sponsors...
SOS Computer – Billy Dean
What is your name and position within your company? Billy Dean – Director What is the name of your company and how long have you been involved with it? SOS Computers Kent LTD – 8 Years What does your company do and what makes it so special? We are an IT Support Company that listens...
me:now – Barry Thompson
What is your name and position within your company? Barry Thompson and I am the CEO What is the name of your company and how long have you been involved with it? The company is called me:now and I co-founded it with Stuart Buckland 3 years ago What does your company do and what makes it so special? We help small businesses market when they are available...
Congratulations Lauren
We at Community Driving School want to congratulate Lauren for passing her driving test today. It has been a real pleasure teaching Lauren to drive and she has raised some cash for Pilgrims Hospices while learning...
Congratulations Thea
We would very much like to congratulate Thea for passing her test today. All that effort paid off and she was brilliant today. It has been a pleasure to teach her to drive and I know she will enjoy driving on her own...
First Aid
Community Driving School is very proud to lead the way with our commitment to driving instruction and the care for our pupils. We have a Safeguarding Policy approved by Kent County Council and now we have completed a Level 3 First Aid Qualification thanks to Target First Aid Ltd and David Mayhew and the team...
Congratulations Jack!
We at Community Driving School would like to congratulate Jack for passing his driving test on Monday 15th October. Jack and his family own BonneBombe in Deal and they support us in what we want to achieve with our Community Driven project...
Well done Katie!
Today Katie Passed her driving test at Herne Bay at her first attempt. Well done Katie and thank you for being such a fantastic person. You have also raised cash for Pilgrims Hospices...
Well done Arran!
Another fantastic news item for us here at Community Driving School, Arran passed his driving test and raised funds for Pilgrims Hospice Canterbury in taking lessons with us...
Target First Aid Ltd – Dave & Jardine Mayhew
What is your name and position within your company? Dave & Jardine Mayhew – directors What is the name of your company and how long have you been involved with it? Target First Aid Ltd – we established the company in 2014 What does your company do and what makes it so special? We deliver all aspects of first aid training in an engaging manner, we only use emergency service personnel (serving or retired) that bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the training, that can’t be learnt from a book...
PaymentsMatter – Roger Howes
What is your name and position within your company? Roger Howes – Business Development Manager What is the name of your Company and how long have you been involved with it? PaymentsMatter – I’ve had 6 years in the industry What does your company do and what makes it so special? Card machines – Competitive rates, local service & support What is the most important value you hold onto in business? Good customer service What advice would you give to people interested in becoming entrepreneurs in your industry? Work hard and don’t give up...
J & J Systems – Jacqueline Offen
What is your name? Jacqueline Offen What is the name of your Company and how long have you been involved with it? J & J Systems UK Limited – I’ve been here the 20 years we have been established! What does your company do and what makes it so special? We are a Managed IT Services business, offering clients of all sizes help, advice & support with their computer systems – in a personal, straightforward & practical manner...
Congratulations Amy
Many congratulations to Amy for passing her driving test at the first attempt. She is an amazing person and has overcome serious anxieties to achieve this...
fairly marvellous – Jonathan Gwyer
What is your name and position within your company? Jonathan Gwyer – Managing Director and Chief Geek What is the name of your Company and how long have you been involved with it? fairly marvellous – we started our company in 2007 but the fairly marvellous “brand” launched in 2011 What does your company do and what makes it so special? We build websites and help people grow their businesses online...
Expert Financial Services Ltd – Steven Hall
What is your name and position within your company? Steven Hall (Owner) What is the name of your company and how long have you been involved with it? Expert Financial Services Ltd 2 years What does your company do and what makes it so special? We provide mortgage and insurance advice for first-time buyers and existing homeowners What is the most important value you hold onto in business? Trust What advice would you give to people interested in becoming entrepreneurs in your industry? Just be as helpful and honest as you can Why did you choose to “Be Part of The Community” and get involved with Community Driving School? It sounds like a fantastic and worthwhile cause that will benefit a lot of people Is there anything you would like to say to those people that will benefit from your generosity? Please make the most of it!
Jarmans Solicitors – Jay Sahota
What is your name and position within your company? Jay Sahota — Owner, Senior Partner and Head of Dispute Resolution What is the name of your Company and how long have you been involved with it? Jarmans Solicitors...
Congratulations Tyne – our first pass through the scheme
Community Driving School is proud to announce that we’ve had our first person pass through the scheme. For all of you that have donated to our cause we’d like to thank you for making this possible and here is a message from the brave young lady herself...
Beachshore – Paul Carter
What is your name and position within your company? Paul Carter and I’m the founder / joint owner. What is the name of your company and how long have you been involved with it? Beachshore Design Limited...
Hidden Gem – Judith Andrews
What is your name and position within your company? Judith Andrews, Founder What is the name of your company and how long have you been involved with it? Hidden Gem Associates – I launched my business in April 2016 What does your company do and what makes it so special? We provide business administration services – we organise the chaos and give you time to shine! What is the most important value you hold onto in business? Being professional and authentic What advice would you give to people interested in becoming entrepreneurs in your industry? Love what you do – then everyone you come into contact with sees it...
We Have Our Car!
We now have a 2017 Ford Fiesta in which to give driving lessons. Our sincere thanks to County Garage Ford, Herne Bay for trusting us and believing in our mission to bring hope to those most in need...
Trinity Fencing Joins our cause to bring hope to those in need
Many ex-offenders (often with partner and child) are left homeless, jumping from shelter to shelter whilst trying to secure accommodation. Employment and accommodation are two great hurdles for ex-offenders (according to Statistics taken from a study from the Ministry of Justice: Transforming Rehabilitation) and two main reasons why they re-offend...
Welcome to Crackin’ Glass
Community Driving School C.I.C. would like to say a huge thank you to the team at Crackin’ Glass who have made a financial donation to our cause...
CWW Accountants Joins the List of Sponsors
Community Driving School C.I.C. is proud to announce that CWW Accountants has come on board with this essential project. We are very humbled that they have trusted us with their reputation and they see the value that this project brings to people in poverty...
The Recruitment People Join the Growing List of Sponsors
It is with great pleasure that we would like to announce The Recruitment People as sponsors of Community Driving School. Matt, Gemma and the team are very professional and focused on ensuring that the right people get the right job that it is natural we draw on their expertise to place people when they have completed the training programme...
Classic Music and Motors
We are delighted to announce Classic Music and Motors to our list of sponsors. If you have been to one of their shows you will know what a fantastic day this is and the array of classic cars is astounding...
Youth Employment Report
The Youth Employment Report is very important and highlights why Community Driving School exists. The primary objectives of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Youth Employment is to: promote youth employment in all its forms and the role of young people within the economy to ensure young people’s voices are heard to highlight the need for quality opportunities; and to share best practice In 2017/18 the All Party Parliamentary Group for Youth Employment will look closely at three topics that impact on youth employment...
Join our Easyfundraising CDS 5K Campaign
We want to get 5000 people signed up to help us generate revenue for our amazing cause. Do you shop at Amazon, Asos, Next, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Argos or Fat Face? Do you want to book your holiday for Winter or Summer via Expedia, eBookers, Hotels...
Come and meet us
We will have a stand at various car shows around Kent so come and meet us. The dates and venues are:- Deal Classic Car Show Sunday 27 May 2017 – Deal, Kent Whitstable Classic Motor Show Sunday 16 July 2017- Whistable, Kent Herne Bay Classic Motor Show Sunday 20 August 2017 – Herne Bay, Kent More info on the following website :- http://classicmusicandmotors...
