Bath & North East Somerset Council - Voluntary Car Schemes
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Working together for health & wellbeing

The Health and wellbeing partnership conprises NHS Bath and North east Somerset (NHS banes PCT) and Bath and North East Somerset (banes) Council working together in partnership.

Voluntary Car Schemes

Community Transport in Bath & North East Somerset

This page provides information on voluntary car schemes in Bath & North East Somerset.

 

 

Batheaston Neighbourhood Group

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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Bathford Link

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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Limpley Stoke and Freshford Transport Link

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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SWAN Volunteer Transport Scheme

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. Please see their leaflet: Swan Advice Network - Transport Services under Related Documents.

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. Some of the journeys we are presently undertaking vary from attending language classes and lunch clubs to shopping and benefits workshops.

The scheme is also running a pilot project "Access to Health" (part-funded by Big Lottery) to help elderly/disabled people on low income (with savings under £16,000) to access outpatient appointments at Bath Royal United Hospital and to access appointments at their local doctor's surgery.  Additionally, the scheme can assist clients wishing to visit relatives and friends in hospital.

The transport is free to clients and although we accept donations we don't make a formal charge.

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.
  • via Fax - 01761 432445
  • via Email - swan_voltrans@dial.pipex.com

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Contact Details for this page:
Team:
Public Transport
Address:
Riverside, Temple Street, Bristol, BS31 1LA
Phone:
01225 394041
Fax:
01225 394335
Minicom:
01225 39 41 66
Author:
Andrew Radford
 

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