Community Transport
Voluntary Car Schemes
This page provides information on voluntary car
schemes in Bath & North East Somerset.
About the Group: The Batheaston Neighbourhood
Group is a registered charity providing a transport service to the
residents of Batheaston.
Types of Journeys catered for: Many journeys
are to take elderly, handicapped or infirm passengers to the local
medical centre, the Royal united hospital and occasionally to one
of the Bristol hospitals.
The group shop for the housebound, take people shopping, collect
and deliver prescriptions.
In certain circumstances the group can arrange other
special journeys.
The group provide two shopping coaches each month, one to
Sainsburys in Chippenham and one to Safeway in Bath. These coaches
depart from the Avon Court Residential Flats in Batheaston.
Driver Information: The group have 35
volunteer drivers, using their own cars, who are asked to be
available for approximately 2 hours during each month. The
group offer to pay 35p per mile to those who request it and
they are then required to complete a job sheet.
BOOKING INFORMATION
How the bookings are managed: Requests for
transport are made to one of our three co-ordinators who work on a
rota system. All have telephone answer machines. When a request has
been received the co-ordinator books a driver and then the driver
contacts the client to arrange details of the pick up etc.
Notice: As much warning as possible should be
given although we can often provide emergency transport at short
notice.
Cost of a Journey: Clients are given an
opportunity to make anonymous contribution towards the cost of
their journey.
To book a journey or find out more, please
contact:
- Janet Jackson on telephone 01225
859843
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About the Group: Bathford Link (registered
charity number 1042822) was formed in 1994 to provide
unpaid voluntary support to the residents of Bathford, all of
whom are automatically members.
Types of journeys catered for: The most
significant task is the transportation of clients to and from
Batheaston Medical Centre, local hospitals and the collection of
prescriptions.
Bathford Link also endeavours to meet a wider range of needs,
including help with official forms, advise on seeking services and
assistance, a weekly coffee morning and other social events and
outings.
Driver Information: Transport is provided
by using private cars of volunteers (some 35 in number) all of whom
are covered by special insurance appropriate to suit charitable
work.
BOOKING INFORMATION
Notice: Please give at least 24 hours notice of
transport.
Cost of a journey: Donations are invited from
clients (35p per mile is suggested as a guide). Bathford Link has
also benefited from a number of generous donations from the local
community, including bequests in recognition of help given.
To book a journey or find out more, please
contact:
- The co-ordinator on tel.
07870666582.
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About the Group: The transport link was first
set up in 1989 in Limpley Stoke and later extended to Freshford, to
help people make important journeys which they could not do by
public transport. The villages are spread over steep hillsides and
therefore medical, shopping or social visits can present major
problems for the elderly, the frail or people with
disabilities.
The scheme is run by a committee drawn from both villages. Its
members are elected annually at the Annual General Meeting.
Types of Journeys catered for: The Transport
Link is there to help anyone who has a transport problem which
cannot easily be solved in any other way.
Driver Information: The transport link is a
voluntary organisation using volunteer drivers. The drivers receive
expenses to offset the cost of petrol. Other main expenses are
insurance and telephone charges.
BOOKING INFORMATION
How the bookings are managed: Calls will be
answered and journeys organised by either the Co-ordinator or
relief co-ordinator who will let the passenger know the name of the
driver.
There can be no guarantee that a driver will be available for
any particular journey but failure to accommodate is very rare.
Cost of Transport: To pay for driver expenses
the Link relies on donations from passengers. Drivers carry special
envelopes into which donations can be placed at the end of each
journey.
To book a journey or find out more, please
contact:
- Telephone - 01225 723204.
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About the Group: SWAN Volunteer Transport
Scheme is a project run by SWAN Advice Network. The group
has been operating since April 2001 and the office is based in
Radstock.
Types of Journey catered for: The scheme
promotes social inclusion by providing transport to Social Services
clients, SWAN Advice Network referrals and self-referring older
isolated and disabled people on low incomes in North East Somerset
by enabling people to participate in social, recreational and
training opportunities. The transport is free to clients and
although we accept donations we don't make a formal charge.
Due to our funding we can not provide hospital transport,
however we can assist clients wishing to visit relatives and
friends in hospital. Some of the journeys we are presently
undertaking vary from attending language classes and lunch clubs to
shopping and benefits workshops.
Driver Information: The scheme recruits
volunteer drivers who are paid mileage expenses for the use of
their own vehicle. Support and training is provided by SWAN and is
ongoing.
The drivers are matched with individual clients and their
primary role is driving. The drivers are able to offer some basic
support to these individuals however, this service does not include
lifting and handling clients or an escort service.
BOOKING INFORMATION
To book a journey or find out more, please
contact:
- Sarah Oughton
- via post - SWAN Advice Network, Leigh
House, 1 Wells Hill, Radstock, BA3 3RN.
- via Telephone - 01761
439548.
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