Newbury Volunteer Driver and Car Scheme

Monday to Friday 10am – 1pm 

01635 49004

Broadways House, 4 – 8 The Broadway, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 1BA

What is the Newbury Volunteer Driver and Car Scheme?

The Newbury Volunteer Driver and Car Scheme provide transportation for people who find it difficult to use public transport. This may be because you are elderly, but we also provide a service to permanently or temporarily disabled people and to children and families.

We offer the service for regular journeys – going to out-patient treatment or visiting a loved one, for example – and also for one-off visits such as to the doctor’s surgery.

How much does it cost?

We request that passengers pay a mileage-related contribution towards the journey cost. The drivers do not receive any payment for their time which is donated voluntarily. Journey contributions will be discussed at the time of your booking. 

Please note: NHS Help with Health Costs

Although most NHS treatment is free, there are still some costs you might need to pay, for example, to get your prescriptions or to travel to your hospital appointment.

Find out how you could get help to pay for these health costs: NHS Help with Health Costs | NHSBSA 

HC5(T) Refund claim form: travel costs to receive NHS treatment.

Guidance – HC5(T) Refund claim form

How much notice do I need to give?

We ask you to give at least 3 – 4 days notice prior to a journey, to allow us to find a driver who has the necessary time available. In the case of long-distance journeys we prefer at least a week’s notice. It is never too early to book a journey with us, the more time we have the easier it is for us to find a volunteer driver. 

In exceptional circumstances we may be able to find a driver at shorter notice, but we cannot guarantee this.

West Berkshire Community Transport Operators

Burghfield and Mortimer Handybus

The group can assist with transport for elderly and disabled members of the community.

They provide transport for shopping and social club trips and have a wheelchair adapted minibus. 

Phone: 0118 983 6611. Phone calls are answered between 9.30am and 11.30am Monday to Friday. 

Email: thehandybus@gmail.com

Areas of West Berkshire covered: Burghfield, Mortimer, Stratfield Mortimer, Sulhamstead and Ufton Nervet. 

The bureau provide transport by car to anyone who is unable to use other transport, particularly for medical appointments.

They are also able to organise transport to local day centres for some residents. 

Phone: 0118 983 1814. Phone calls are answered between 9.30am and 11.30am Monday to Friday. 

Email: bureauvolunteer@gmail.com

Website: Burghfield & Mortimer Volunteer Bureau 

Areas covered: Aldermaston, Burghfield, Mortimer, Stratfield Mortimer, Sulhamstead and Ufton Nervet. 

Carebus provide transport for disabled, isolated and vulnerable people in the eastern area of West Berkshire. 

They can provide transport to medical appointments, shopping or leisure activities. 

The group has wheelchair adapted cares and minibuses.

Phone: 0118 930 4837. For car trips, bus routes and group bus trips.  A 24/7 messaging service is available. Calls requiring answering are returned same day or next day. 

Emails: info@carebus.org for general enquiries. To enquire about a trip you can email: bookings @carebus.org. 

Website: Carebus

Areas covered: Aldworth, Ashampstead, Basildon, Beenham, Bradfield, Bucklebury, Englefield, Holybrook, Pangbourne, Purley, Stanford Dingley, Streatley, Sulham, Tidmarsh, Tilehurst, Theale and Yattendon. 

The group provides transport to assist elderly and socially-isolated residents who are unable to use public transport.

They can take people to appointments or shopping. 

Phone: 0118 971 3334. Phone calls are answered between 9.30am to 11.30am on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. 

Website: Chapel Row Community Services Group

Areas covered: Beenham, Brimpton, Bucklebury, Midgham, Lower Padworth and Woolhampton. 

The group offers Handybus (includes an electric minibus known as the HandeBus) and Community Car services.

They are able to take people to hospital or doctors, dentist or optician appointments and shopping.

The Handybus can do shopping trips and other outings. 

Phone: 01635 578394. For Handybus and Community Car. Phone calls are answered between 9.30am to 11.30am Monday to Friday. 

Email: DVG Office Email 

Website: Downland Volunteer Group

Areas covered: within the area generally bounded by Winterbourne, Fawley, Aldworth, Ashampstead, Hermitage, Frilsham and Chieveley. 

The CHAIN can provide transport to medical or dental appointments and other types of travel.

Drivers collect passengers from home and escort them to the location, stay with them and them take them home. 

Car Scheme Phone : 01488 683727. The office is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday between 9am and 11am. A messaging service is also available. 

Handybus Phone: 07767 891161

Website: Hungerford CHAIN

Areas covered: Eddington, Froxfield, Hungerford, Hungerford Newtown and Leverton. 

They offer a car scheme and also a minibus passenger lift service as the group has an agreement with Hungerford CHAIN to use their vehicles. 

Phone: 01488 657119. Lines are open Monday to Friday between 9.30am to 11.30am. A 24-hour messaging service is also available.

Website: Kintbury Volunteer Group

Areas covered: Kintbury, Inkpen, Stockcross, West Woodhay and Wickham. 

The group offers a door-to-door car scheme.

Drivers will take passengers to healthcare appointments, including GP surgeries and hospitals. 

Phone: 01488 71536. Phone lines are open on Mondays and Thursdays between 10am to 12noon. 

Website: Lambourn Volunteer Group

Areas covered: Aldbourne, Lambourn, Upper Lambourn, Welford, Great Shefford, Lambourn Woodlands, Wickham, Eastbury and East Garston. 

The trust offers transport services to hospital in the South of England for treatment and appointments. 

Phone: Transport Co-ordinator – 01635 243343. The booking service is available Monday to Friday 10am to 3pm. A messaging service is also available. 

Website: Newbury & District Cancer Care Trust

Areas covered: whole of West Berkshire. 

The centre provides transport to medical and hospital appointments and also to social activities. 

Phone: 0118 984 4586. The office is open Monday to Friday between 9.30am to 11.30am. 

Areas covered: Pangbourne, Ashampstead, Lower Basildon, Purley, Tidmarsh, Tilehurst (RG31 6_), Upper Basildon, Whitchurch, Whitchurch Hill. 

Offers a dial-a-ride service for people who cannot use other public transport in and around Reading. 

Phone: 0118 931 0000. The office is open Monday to Friday between 9am to 5pm.

Website: ReadiBus

Areas covered: based in Greater Reading, please contact directly for information on specific areas served. 

The group provides transport for those that do not have access or cannot access public transport to go to medical appointments at their GP surgery or hospital. 

Phone: 0118 930 6419. Phone lines are open Mondays and Wednesdays between 10am to 12noon. 

Areas covered: Bradfield, Englefield, Stanford Dingley, Theale and westwards journeys from Calcot. 

The bureau provide transport to medical appointments or to visit family and friends for those that cannot use public transport. 

Phone:  01635 862306 for Community Car (including wheelchair adapted). Lines open Monday to Friday between 10am to 12noon. 

Areas covered: Thatcham, Ashmore Green, Cold Ash, Crookham, Hermitage and Woolhampton.