Newark & Sherwood Community and Voluntary Service

Volunteer Driving Opportunities

What volunteer drivers do?
We have a team of around thirty Volunteer Drivers who use their own cars to take people to hospital, clinics, doctors, chiropodist, physiotherapist, dentist, podiatrist, and opticians. We also operate a scheme for people wanting to visit close relatives in hospital or a nursing home.

Who can volunteer?
You can apply to become a Volunteer Driver if you have the following:

A car
A clean driving licence
Comprehensive car insurance
An MOT certificate

Volunteers find the work very rewarding and enjoy meeting a variety of people. Once a job is undertaken they are encouraged to act on their own initiative, regarding any problems that may arise, although support is always available from the office. Volunteer drivers are considered by health workers and patients alike as providing a valuable and indispensable service

Volunteer Information

Volunteers are expected to provide passengers with help and support when necessary, therefore Volunteer Drivers must be reliable, punctual and sympathetic to the needs of their passengers.

Volunteer Drivers can stipulate the days and times when they are available. There is no obligation to undertake trips to any destination.

The Organiser will help and support Volunteer Drivers at all times, and drivers are encouraged to visit the office regularly to discuss problems and to keep abreast of current issues.

All volunteer drivers will receive a mileage allowance – currently 39p per mile, which is paid monthly. Mileage will be measured to and from the volunteer’s home.

Volunteer Drivers must complete an application form and provide the names of two referees. They must also sign a declaration that they are it to drive and agree to checks (disclosures) being undertaken through the Criminal Records Bureau. All unspent convictions must be declared.

Any history of serious illness must be declared, with any medical condition which may affect a volunteers’ ability to work for the Voluntary Transport Scheme. If necessary, the co-ordinator may ask for a doctor’s letter confirming an applicant’s fitness to drive.

Our longest serving volunteer has been driving for 20 years and we have other drivers who have been with us for 10 years or more. Some of our volunteers only do one or two jobs a week, whereas others might do two or three long runs and some short local runs. Although we occasionally take patients as far afield as Birmingham, Sheffield and York, the majority of trips are to Nottingham, Mansfield, Grantham and Lincoln. Drivers are not expected to undertake any journey that they are not happy with.

Perhaps the hardest part of the job is time spent waiting at the hospital. We can often predict how long an appointment will be, but this can change for all sorts of reasons and drivers may find themselves at a hospital for longer than expected.

Both drivers and passengers enjoy the personal contact and regular patients do build up a rapport with their drivers. For many patients this individual service relieves the stress of a hospital visit.

Contact Details

Judy Byrom, Organiser of the Newark & Sherwood Voluntary Transport Scheme, will answer any questions you might have about your eligibility and any further information you may need. Contact details given below.

Newark & Sherwood Voluntary Transport Scheme, 67 Northgate
Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG24 1HD

Opening Hours: 10am – 12noon and 1pm - 3pm Monday to Friday

Telephone: 01636 610773
(An answer machine is in operation out of office hours)
Fax: 01636 612296
Email: jbyrom@nandscvs.org