Suffolk Volunteering Federation

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.