Volunteer Drivers Needed in this area!
Transcript from a volunteer driver from Maiden Newton. Just a brief summary of what is entailed. It is an extremely useful service for those who need it.
“We take anyone who needs medical related appointments (dentist, physio, hospital, surgery etc) who has no other transport. The service is aimed mainly at the older and vulnerable population, not the fit young (exceptions can be considered) and those with mobility issues who have no access to other transport.
The charge is 50p per mile the client is driven and also 50p a mile to the clients pick up point from the driver. This is to cover driver costs; the drivers are not paid.
Drivers must have a valid insurance (most are like this now) and will have to have a police check (done for us by the DCC).
Drivers will then join a WhatsApp group where the clients requests are advertised. A potential driver can offer to do the drive or not, and may do as many, or few, as they wish. Some people do one a week, some one a month or fewer.
Most frequent drives are to the Drs surgeries and the local hospitals. Some drivers also undertake longer drives to other local hospitals the furthest being Southampton but this is not necessary.
All the clients are based in (or very close to) the catchment area for Maiden Newton Surgery although we take people to other surgeries if they live in that area.
Most clients live in Maiden Newton, Toller and Cattistock. We have drivers in MN and Toller but none in Cattistock. We encourage drivers to pick up clients close to them as it obviously involves less driver time (and expense to the Council) so we would appreciate Cattistock volunteers.
Many thanks for your time.