Surrey Community Action - Drive into Action

NEWS RELEASE (June 2015)

Drive into action – become a volunteer driver and help your community

Each year Surrey’s voluntary car schemes help thousands of elderly and vulnerable people across the county to access hospital appointments, collect prescriptions and to enjoy social events.

Each one is run by local volunteers for the benefit of their communities, by providing lifts for those who may not have easy access to transport.

As the population ages, and as cuts impact on local transport services and result in the centralisation of health services, demand for the service provided by voluntary car schemes is increasing year on year but the number of volunteer drivers is falling in Waverley.

That’s why Surrey Community Action, which provides help to develop new schemes and on-going advice and support to existing schemes, and Surrey County Council have teamed up to boost the number of volunteer drivers in the Borough.

Becoming a volunteer driver is easy and volunteers can give as much or as little time as they choose, as well as decide the days and times during which they are available.

In return, volunteers are rewarded with the satisfaction of knowing that they are helping elderly neighbours to live independently for longer. Feedback such as “This is the first time I have been out for six months" and "What would we do without you? We are so grateful for all you do” makes a little bit of effort very worthwhile.

Mary, 94, from Tilford became a client of TARNS (Tilford And Rushmoor Neighbours Scheme) after she stopped driving a couple of years ago. Mary says: “I’d have to move out of the village if it weren’t for TARNS. There are no longer any local shops and very few buses. I’ve fallen so many times, that I don’t feel confident going out and about on my own.”

Alexa is a volunteer driver for TARNS and helps local people like Mary to get out and about. “You don’t get to see anyone any more now that the local shops have gone so I know how important it is for Mary to make it to her monthly coffee morning” she says. “I volunteered because I thought ‘well, I might need help like that one day’ so I thought I would help out while I still could.”

For more information about how to become a volunteer driver, contact Vicki Turton at Surrey Community Action on 01483 447121 or email vickit@surreyca.org.uk