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Suffolk Volunteering Federation

 

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 Volunteer Driver
"I find driving for the community very rewarding. I have helped others get about and have made many new friends".



Image - Volunteer driver
 



Community Transport Minibus




Community Transport Minibus




Community Transport Minibus

 


Drive Your Community

Logo - Drive Your Community

“Drive Suffolk" is a campaign to encourage volunteers to help those unable to travel through lack of private transport or for whom no suitable public transport is available.

Thousands of people in Suffolk rely on community transport schemes to get out and about but a shortage of volunteer drivers is threatening many services. Estimates suggest that at least 150 additional volunteer drivers are required across the county to enable services to run smoothly. This does not take into account the dozens of individual charities who run minibuses for their clients and also require drivers. 

Transport in the form of private cars or community transport minibuses, is needed:

·         to take people to medical appointments - doctors, dentists, chiropodists

·         for transport for social events - clubs, societies, visiting friends and relatives for personal business - banks, hairdressers, shopping or to link with scheduled public services - trains, coaches or buses

If you are a driver or an active person with a few hours to spare, you could become part of a very rewarding scheme, enhancing your own and other peoples' lives.

You could be a tremendous help in enabling people, who cannot use conventional public transport because of where they live or through mobility impairment, to get out and about in Suffolk. Using your own car or driving a minibus, you can arrange to help where and when it suits you.

You'll be surprised at just how rewarding "driving the community" can be - meeting new people, going to new places and making use of your free time.

Just an hour or two each week or each month will make a huge difference to someone. Some volunteers help every day, some just help out at Christmas time - all help is valuable, all help is important.

Help, advice and training are provided and agreed expenses are available to all volunteers. Nationally recognised training is given to minibus drivers (MIDAS) and to passenger assistants (PATS). Car drivers also receive training and all volunteers are fully supported in their work by the local community transport service operators.

Being part of "Drive Suffolk" can be fun, the hours are flexible and you will be contributing to a worthwhile and much needed service.

SCHEMES

CONTACT NO
BABERGH  
Hadleigh Community Transport Group 01473 828202
Lavenham Area Community Transport 01473 826242
Shotley Buzzabout 0845 458 1920
Sudbury Town Area Rural Transport (START) 01787 242116
FOREST HEATH  
Brandon Community Car Scheme 01842 816176
The Voluntary Network Community Car Service 01638 608049
The Voluntary Network Dial a Ride 01638 608080
Thetford Door to Door 01842 750088
IPSWICH  
Ipswich Dial a Ride 0845 347 9379
WRVS Community Car Service 01473 216642
MID SUFFOLK  
Diss Borderhoppa 01379 854800
Eye Centre for Volunteering Community Car Scheme 01379 871200
Optua Community Transport 01449 614271
ST EDMUNDSBURY  
Bury St Edmunds Dial a Ride 01284 724545
Clare Liaison and Support Project (CLASP) 01787 277705
3 CT (Haverhill and District) 01440 712028
SUFFOLK COASTAL  
Coastal Accessible Transport Services (CATS) 01728 830516
Coastal Area Dial a Ride 01728 830516
Community Buzz (Forest Heath) 01638 608022
Felixstowe Area Dial a Ride 01394 270339
Felixstowe Community Car Service 01394 284770
Framlingham Area Community Car Service 01728 621262
Woodbridge Community Car Service 01473 738292
WAVENEY  
Beccles & Bungay Area Community Transport 01986 896896
Halesworth Area Community Transport 01986 875900
Halesworth Area Community Car Service 01986 874290
Lowestoft Area Community Car Service 01502 589782
Southwold Area Community Car Service 01502 724549
Southwold, Reydon & District Community Transport 01502 722600
Waveney Area Community Transport 01502 531631

 


 

 
 © Suffolk Volunteering Federation, 2010