A brand new community service has launched in Swanage, Dorset, offering much needed assisted transport for those who struggle to get out and about.
Chris Dupuy launched Wheels on Wheels at the start of September 2025 to offer a new service across Purbeck, providing door to door support, wheelchair access, and the reassurance of a companion throughout the journey.
Chris has invested in an adapted transport vehicle with wheelchair ramp and safety features
Vision of wider support for older people
Unlike traditional taxi services, Chris makes only an hourly charge for his time and will take his clients to their appointments, wait with them and give them any support they need before taking them back to their home.
But his vision of wider support for Purbeck’s older population doesn’t stop there – he’s also very happy to take people out to clubs, to the supermarket, for a walk along the seafront or even for a cup of tea at a garden centre.
Chris spotted a need for the service after accompanying his partner Bev, a self employed carer in Swanage, who looks after elderly and dementia patients.
He noticed how so many of them were housebound, either because they were in a wheelchair or too frail to catch a bus, and found that there was no company in Swanage offering a complete assisted transport service which could accommodate a wheelchair.
Chris is aiming to make a difference to the lives of less mobile people in Purbeck
“I want to make a difference”
Chris Dupuy said:
“My philosophy is simple, I want to make life easier and make a difference to older and disabled residents in Purbeck, whether it’s a medical appointment, a shopping trip, or just a chance to get out for a coffee.
“A lot of them rely on wheelchairs or have limited mobility, and just getting to the car can be a struggle. For those who don’t drive and can’t manage public transport, there weren’t really any options.
“Taxis will get you from one place to another, but they don’t wait with you, they don’t sit with you at the hospital, and they certainly don’t bring the reassurance that someone’s going to be there for the whole journey.
“It’s all about making life a little bit easier. Regular clients get to know you and trust you, which means that part of the stress of having to get somewhere on time and in comfort is alleviated.”
With a new logo and a website on the way, Chris hopes his new venture will grow swiftly
Waiting for half a day
Chris added:
“For me, the need for my service was made clear when I took a gentleman to Bournemouth Hospital for an eye appointment, escorted him to the right department, stayed with him while he was there, then brought him back.
“On that trip we met a resident from a care home in Swanage who had been there for a morning appointment, and was finished by 11.35 am.
“We arrived at 2 o’clock and she was still waiting for a patient transfer back home, and after we came out of our appointment half an hour later she had just been told that her transport would be at least another 90 minutes, so we took her back.
“The poor woman had been sitting in the hospital in her wheelchair for half a day, either waiting for her appointment or for someone to take her home and still wasn’t done. I totally understand the demands that are put on the NHS and the ambulance service, but that is not funny.”
Chris can make trips up the hill to Swanage Hospital much easier
Emphasis on quality of life
Chris, who ran a number of pubs and hotels in Dorset before moving to Swanage, invested in a wheelchair accessible Kia Sedona, fully converted with a ramp and space for up to three additional passengers
He has an enhanced DBS certificate, which is far more thorough than the standard check, has all the relevant insurances in place and is now beginning to build up a client base.
Chris has been working at the Cellar Bar in Swanage over the summer, but as he’s already picked up business taking people to and from Swanage Hospital and many of Purbeck’s care homes, he hopes Wheels on Wheels will soon become a fulltime business.
While hospital visits for patients at Swanage, Dorchester, Poole and Bournemouth hospitals will be an important part of the business, Chris also wants to put an emphasis on companionship and quality of life for his clients.
He believes that regular outings, even something as simple as a trip to the garden centre, can make a huge difference to lives, particularly for dementia patients.
The wheelchair accessible Kia Sedona is already becoming a familiar sight in Swanage
“I talk to my clients and share a laugh”
Chris said:
“I’ve got one client I take out every week to do some shopping, have a coffee, and then head home. This is not just about transport, it’s about building trust, having a familiar face, and keeping people connected.
“For someone who might see a different carer every day, that continuity really matters. If I had a relative in that situation, I’d want them to have someone they knew and trusted to take them out.
“I talk to my clients, ask about their memories, share a laugh. It keeps the mind active. Otherwise, people can end up just existing, and that’s no life at all.
“In the past I’ve run pubs, run my own businesses and now it’s time for me to put something back into the community.
“This is about helping people, reducing stress, and making life that little bit easier for those who can’t just jump in a car and go. I think it’s an important service for Swanage, and I really want it to succeed.”
Further information
- Contact Chris via his website
- Visit the Facebook page for Wheels on Wheels
