Big drive for more volunteer drivers
All three organisations are driven (pun intended) by care and a willingness to serve the community, so they attract friendly, caring people as their volunteers. Demand for their services has increased over the past three years and all are very keen to find new drivers and admin volunteers.
Three local charities are all seeking new volunteer drivers
So what is it like to be a volunteer driver? Richard, a volunteer driver of the Wendover Community Car, said “I have been What must it be like to be stuck at home all the time – especially driving the car for over six years now and have met any number over Christmas and the cold months of the British winter? Luckily of wonderful people and built friendly relationships with people there are several organisations that help I would not otherwise have met. Friends people who can’t easily use public transport sometimes tell me it is kind of me to give up to socialise, go on shopping trips, visit the my time to help, but I can honestly say I get health centre or visit somewhere special. much more out of it than I put in.” All are looking for additional volunteer drivers to help them sustain their invaluable Bob Duggan, who drives for Wendover services. Dementia support, recalled a recent rewarding incident: “The wife of one of our The Wendover Community car provides lovely visitors told me that her husband had door-to-door service, to take residents had a very difficult morning and was very in Wendover to the shops locally and in anxious about leaving home. Aylesbury, as well as to facilities such as Garden Centres, like Dobbies or Tring “She said that the moment he saw my Garden Centre. They also assist with longer familiar face coming up the path he relaxed distance journeys, for example family and when he opened the door he had a big visits, day trips out or even for small group smile on his face that said ‘Hello Bob! I’m all holidays. This year alone the community car ready to go!’” has travelled nearly 7,000 miles carrying 1,500 passengers on 900 journeys. They If you would like to find out more about charge a modest flat fee per mile. being a volunteer driver with one (or more) of these great community teams, here are The Friends of Wendover Health Centre is the contacts: a small charity which runs a transport service for the patients of the health centre providing transport to healthcare appointments Friends of Wendover Health Centre: call the desk across the county. This runs flexibly and the volunteers use their between 1-3pm Monday-Friday on 01296 622565 or Email own cars – but get paid expenses. friendsofwendoverhealthcentre@outlook.com. In our last edition, we had a feature on Wendover Dementia Support’s drivers who pick up dementia patients and their carers to take them to their Monday club socials. The service provides a positive social experience for people with dementia, and just the right kind of mental stimulation.
Sugarcraft Specialist Cake decorating supplies Cake decorating courses 01296 696860 1 Town Court High St Wendover HP22 6EA www.cornellisugarcraft.co.uk
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Wendover News December 2023
Wendover Community Car: 01296 317769 or via the website: wendovercommunitycar.org, Wendover Dementia Support: Email info@wendoverds.org.uk or call 07732 342409 and leave a message.
Tai Chi and Qigong for health and wellbeing Local classes, Zoom & one to one Contact Ruth 07354 686606 qigong@resms.co.uk
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