Big drive for more volunteer drivers

Three local charities are all seeking new volunteer drivers

What must it be like to be stuck at home all the time – especially over Christmas and the cold months of the British winter? Luckily there are several organisations that help people who can’t easily use public transport to socialise, go on shopping trips, visit the health centre or visit somewhere special. All are looking for additional volunteer drivers to help them sustain their invaluable services.

The Wendover Community car provides door-to-door service, to take residents in Wendover to the shops locally and in Aylesbury, as well as to facilities such as Garden Centres, like Dobbies or Tring Garden Centre. They also assist with longer distance journeys, for example family visits, day trips out or even for small group holidays. This year alone the community car has travelled nearly 7,000 miles carrying 1,500 passengers on 900 journeys. They charge a modest flat fee per mile.

The Friends of Wendover Health Centre is a small charity which runs a transport service for the patients of the health centre providing transport to healthcare appointments across the county. This runs flexibly and the volunteers use their own cars – but get paid expenses.

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.

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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.

So what is it like to be a volunteer driver? Richard, a volunteer driver of the Wendover Community Car, said “I have been driving the car for over six years now and have met any number of wonderful people and built friendly relationships with people I would not otherwise have met. Friends sometimes tell me it is kind of me to give up my time to help, but I can honestly say I get much more out of it than I put in.”

Bob Duggan, who drives for Wendover Dementia support, recalled a recent rewarding incident: “The wife of one of our lovely visitors told me that her husband had had a very difficult morning and was very anxious about leaving home.

“She said that the moment he saw my familiar face coming up the path he relaxed and when he opened the door he had a big smile on his face that said ‘Hello Bob! I’m all ready to go!’”

If you would like to find out more about being a volunteer driver with one (or more) of these great community teams, here are the contacts:

Friends of Wendover Health Centre: call the desk between 1-3pm Monday-Friday on 01296 622565 or Email friendsofwendoverhealthcentre@outlook.com

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.

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