The Volunteer Driver Service was established in April 2012 as a project of Citizens Advice North Oxon & South Northants.
Volunteer Driver Service was set up to help get people to essential appointments when there was no reasonable transport alternative.
They keep that notion close to their hearts and refer to this journey type as CORE. Which isn’t an acronym it is the core of why the Volunteer Driver Service exists.
Here’s a few words from our driver Frank about what he does and why.
“I have been with Volunteer Driver Service for a couple of years, having retired from full time work. I knew that the worst thing was that I would miss the day to day contact with the general public.
My job used to be as a driver, driving a bus in Banbury and surrounding areas, so I used to have a lot of that one to one contact. However, I have found that I do still have that opportunity to connect on a one to one basis with people I transport to various destinations.
I can usually gauge how people are going to interact when I first make contact on the phone to arrange a pick up time. So far, I’ve been about 95% right. People are wonderful, and have a history to them that they are willing to talk about, and I am quite happy to listen as they are interesting, funny and knowledgeable. A rewarding service to render, and shouldn’t we all be helping each other?”
Volunteer Driver Service extends its reach beyond the Cherwell area, partnering with South Central Ambulance Service. Last year they completed around 8,500 journeys on behalf of the NHS, and these journeys spanned across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Berkshire.
Volunteer Driver Service also partners with Local Larder who provide emergency food boxes in and around the Banbury area.
They are so proud to be helping Local Larder with their target of providing 10,000 meals this year.
Volunteer Driver Service helps Oxfordshire County Council, Cherwell District Council and the Oxfordshire Fire Service with electric blanket testing.
They also help Cherwell District Council and The Hill Sports and Community Facility with the Winter Warmers initiative, delivering soup to older people within the Banbury community.
It’s easy to see why Volunteer Driver Service has won numerous awards and is a rather special service indeed.
Would you like to join VDS as a Volunteer Driver and become part of an amazing story?
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