In West Berkshire we are lucky to have 11 Volunteer Car Schemes,
each of them serving its community by engaging local people with the
detailed knowledge of every corner of West Berkshire.
What all of the car schemes have in common is a desire to help those
people who are unable to use public transport to get to appointments of
all kinds, such as to the doctors, clinics, opticians, dentists,
hospitals, day centres, visiting a friend or loved one, or just to get
out to do a bit of shopping. Each of the volunteer car schemes listed
here has a band of merry volunteer office workers and volunteer drivers,
all ready willing and able to help members of their community. Each of
the offices has its own operating times and days which are based on
their knowledge of the needs of that particular community. They are all
located in the heart of their community and they are all set up as
charities or community groups with management committees of their own.
Volunteer Drivers are always required to be able to meet the needs of
their village, town or hamlet. If you are reading this and thinking -
what is it that these drivers do? ? well, read on to see if you too
could make a really valuable contribution by becoming a Volunteer Driver
in your area. Here are a few examples of the questions that you may have
before you would agree to becoming a volunteer driver. You might have
other questions, and no doubt your nearest car scheme will be happy to
answer them.
I'm only free on certain days, can I still volunteer? Before
volunteer drivers agree to start they usually want to know what sort of
time commitment they should be prepared to give. That's an easy one: you
tell the scheme what day or times of the day that you would prefer to
offer. For instance, you might say you would be happy to offer Tuesdays
or Thursdays, but that you would be happy to be called on for other
times and would be happy to help if you were free. It is important to
note that the car schemes book you in advance of the job so you are not
waiting by the phone for a job to come in.
Will I have to drive to places I don't like? Not if you don't
want to. A note would be made on the system to say that you would prefer
local jobs only. Some drivers prefer longer jobs to hospitals in Oxford,
Reading or if you are in Hungerford and Lambourn to Swindon. All of the
car schemes have holiday lists so they know when you are away or looking
after children or have other domestic, work, employment or voluntary
commitments.
Am I too old to drive? Each of the car schemes has its own driver
age policy. In Newbury, for example, the upper age limit is 80.
Arrh! what about my insurance? That's an easy one too. Your
insurance company will acknowledge that you are not 'driving for gain
or reward' and they are usually happy to write to you or the car
scheme to confirm this. Only in very rare instances do they seek an
additional premium for volunteer driving.
What about the extra fuel I'm using? Obviously all of the car
schemes are aware that petrol and diesel is expensive. All car schemes
offer out of pocket petrol expenses. They use a simple claim form so
that you are not out of pocket.
Will my bad back mean I can't help? Volunteer drivers are not -
as a matter of policy - allowed to lift their passengers. Voluntary car
schemes don't want you injuring your own back - or your passengers for
that matter. So before a car scheme accepts a request for transport it
will make sure that the passenger is able to walk, albeit with a gentle
helping hand sometimes, or if they are in a wheelchair they must be able
to self transfer from wheelchair to car.
Retired
project engineer Angus Macdonald is married to Sandra. They have
two grown up daughters. Angus, who lives in Newbury, took his
pension a couple of years ago. He wanted a really good reason to
get out of bed following retirement but stressed that he did not
have any high motives to do good work; he just wanted a nice
voluntary job where he could choose his hours.
So if you are interested in becoming a volunteer driver in your area
then call your nearest scheme who will be pleased to hear from you. Or
if you or someone that you know may benefit from the help that these car
schemes offer please give them a call.
Could you be a
volunteer driver?
If
you could be, or even if you would just like some more
information, please contact your local community car scheme
listed below, and they will be able to help.
