This volunteer run car scheme is available to anyone needing transport to essential destinations (e.g. GP surgeries, hospital, essential appointments), and without any other means of transport.
WHAT IS THE CAR SCHEME?
The car scheme is intended to support those who need help with transportation to get to their medical and essential appointments and where availability allows, to go shopping or make social visits. It is maintained by local people who have kindly volunteered their time to drive you or carry out administrative duties to ensure the smooth running of the car scheme. The scheme is supported by Cambridgeshire County Council and all our drivers are DBS checked.
The Scheme currently supports over 140 passengers across our villages - in July this year, our drivers have undertaken 100 different trips - that needed a lot of drivers !
To book a journey
Volunteer for the scheme
WHAT PASSENGERS SAY ABOUT THE SCHEME
‘The Driver was prompt on arrival – they were friendly and really helpful, making sure I wasn’t late.’
‘I’m so thankful to the Scheme, without it, I wouldn’t be able to get to my doctor’s appointment.’
‘The Coordinator was very patient taking my call and understood my needs to find me a driver to take me to hospital, throughout the week to visit my husband, who needed my help during his stay. I don’t know what I would do otherwise. It was one less thing to worry about…’
HOW DO I ARRANGE A JOURNEY/DRIVER?
Call one of our coordinators:
- Gill Stott - 07464 069 483
- Lizzie Coe - 07387 395 296
- Derek Evans – 07464 052 521
Please call between 8.30 am to 6.00 pm, Monday to Friday only.
Please call as soon as you can and giving at least 48 hours prior notice to your appointment.
Please no calls on weekends and bank holidays.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I CALL?
When you call, the coordinator will ask details about your journey e.g. appointment time, date, destination. They will then identify a suitable volunteer driver for your needs. You will be sent an email confirmation of your booking together with who the driver is and what time you need to be ready for. (If you do not have email, we will give you a call).
If it is the first time you have used the car scheme, the coordinator will ask you to complete a registration form.
At the agreed time, the driver will arrive to pick you up from home and return you home after your appointment.
HOW MUCH WILL A JOURNEY COST?
In general, there is a set cost for journeys within villages and to places near at hand. The minimum cost of any journey is £3.50. Longer journeys will be charged at 30p per mile. The distance of a longer journey is calculated from the start point of the Driver’s front door and finishes back at the driver’s door, via the home of the passenger and their appointment destination e.g. the hospital.
The coordinator will tell you the estimated cost and the Driver will confirm cost on the day. Coordinators will endeavour to keep down the cost of your journey.
HOW DO I PAY?
Please pay your driver in cash at the end of your journey. Drivers cannot not accept card payments, bank transfers or any other types of payment.
Our drivers are all volunteers, using their own vehicles and do not make any profit from these journeys. They are reimbursed to cover fuel used for the journey and proportionately their vehicle’s running cost e.g. car tax, vehicle insurance and general wear and tear.
CAN I VOLUNTEER TO HELP WITH THE SCHEME?
Yes, we are always looking for volunteers to join our friendly team. Volunteers are invaluable to keeping the scheme running and we are extremely appreciative of what they do, in helping our local communities. If you have a few hours a week to spare and would like to help, we would love to hear from you.
Please contact us if you are interested in one of the following:
Volunteer Drivers – Using your own car, you will be responsible for picking up and taking the passenger to and from their appointments and back home again.
The coordinator will arrange the journey with the passenger, leaving you, as the driver to focus on the driving. All drivers will be asked to undergo a DBS check before taking any passengers. All journeys are reimbursed at 45p per mile.
Volunteer Coordinators – our coordinators do an amazing job taking calls from passengers, finding a volunteer driver and entering details onto the computer system. This would suit somebody who enjoys communicating with people, not afraid to use a computer (training is given).
Volunteer Fundraisers – Every now and then, we need to fundraise to cover operating costs for the scheme. This could be a coffee morning at the community centre, a stall at the local fete or any creative idea to bring in donations to help the running of the scheme. If you enjoy organising and running fundraising events, we would welcome your help.
We would love to hear from you, if you are interested in being a driver, a coordinator or wanting to help in any way.