We recognise that for some people it can be challenging to get out and about, attend appointments or go to social events and activities, which can have a negative impact on people’s health and wellbeing.
As a volunteer driver, you will be able to make a difference to the lives of others by providing an affordable option for people to access their local communities and beyond!
The scheme is a fantastic new collaboration between Persona Care and Support and HMR Circle to bring an affordable option for people who may be unable to or find it difficult to use public transport to access social events, appointments, attend day support services or amenities within the community.
The scheme coordinates volunteer drivers, who use their own vehicles to provide a door-to-door, flexible, transport service. Passengers are picked up from their home (or chosen location) and taken to their destination and sometimes back to their starting point.
We are looking for volunteer drivers who can help us make this much needed service a reality!
If you enjoy driving, meeting new people and would like to help your local community – then yes, you could be a volunteer driver!
You will need to:
In return you will receive 45p per mile expenses for each journey you do. This supports the running costs of your vehicle whilst you are doing something great for people in Bury. The majority of journeys are expected to be in and around Bury.
Speak to Mary today to find out more and to register to become a volunteer driver:
Phone: 0800 032 0868
Email: mary@hmrcircle.org.uk
Below are details of people's circumstances, where as a volunteer driver you could make a difference.
Betty,* who is supported by Grundy Hub one day per week, would love to come for an extra day. Unfortunately, she lives just outside the Bury border, so it would be extremely costly to get a taxi and as her family are at work they are unable to help her get to Grundy Hub. As a volunteer driver you could make a difference by supporting Betty to get to and from the centre for the extra day, so she is not home alone all day.
Several people who are supported by day services often have medical appointments during the day. This means they are then unable to come to the service for the whole day as they have no way to get to the centre (their usual means of transport runs at set times). As a volunteer driver you could make a difference by supporting people to get to the centre after their appointments, meaning they don’t miss out on a hot meal and seeing their friends.
Many popular social events take place in the evening and people can miss out on these as their usual means of transport to and from the centre is not available and people often don’t have the confidence to use public transport in the evening. As a volunteer driver you could make a difference by supporting people to get to and from the centre for evening events, meaning they get to spend time with their friends and reducing social isolation.
Some people who are supported within short stay services can be quite independent and would usually be supported by family to do their shopping or go out for cake and a coffee. When their family are on holiday, it means they miss out on their usual activities as they are unable to use public transport to travel to and from these activities. As a volunteer driver you could make a difference by supporting people to attend their usual activities when family are unavailable.
*some names have been changed to protect people's privacy.