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Home , Aldworth, Ashampstead, Beedon, Brightwalton, Chapel Row, East Ilsley

Community Drivers - Volunteering in your area In West we are lucky to on to see if you too could make a really valu- day lists so they know when you are away or a gentle helping hand sometimes, or if they have 11 Volunteer Car Schemes, able contribution by becoming a Volunteer looking after children or have other domestic, are in a wheelchair they must be able to self each of them serving their commu- Driver in your area. Here are a few examples work, employment or voluntary commitments. transfer from wheelchair to car. of the questions that you may have before nities by engaging local people you would agree to becoming a volunteer Am I too old to drive? Each of the car Retired project engineer Angus Macdonald with the detailed knowledge of driver. You might have other questions and schemes have their own driver age policy, in is married to Sandra they have two grown up every corner of . no doubt your nearest car scheme will be Newbury for example the upper age limit is 80. daughters. Angus who lives in Newbury took happy to answer them. his pension a couple of years ago. He wanted What all of the car schemes have in common Arrh! what about my insurance? That’s a really good reason to get out of bed follow- is a desire to help those people who are unable I’m only free on certain days, can I still an easy one too. Your insurance company will ing retirement but stressed that he did not to use public transport to get to appointments volunteer? Before volunteer drivers agree to acknowledge that you are ‘not driving for gain have any high motives to do good work but of all kinds such as to the doctors, clinics, the start they usually want to know what sort of or reward’ and they are usually happy to just wanted a nice voluntary job where he opticians, dentists, hospitals, day centres, time commitment they should be prepared to write to you or the car scheme to confirm this. could choose his hours. visiting a friend or loved one or just to get out give. That’s an easy one, you tell the scheme Only in very rare instances do they seek an to do a bit of shopping. Each of the volunteer what day or times of the day that you would additional premium for volunteer driving. So if you are interested in becoming a volun- car schemes listed here have a band of prefer to offer. For instance you might say you teer driver in your area then call your nearest merry volunteer office workers and volunteer would be happy to offer Tuesdays or What about the extra fuel I’m using? scheme who will be pleased to hear from drivers all ready willing and able to help Thursdays, but that you would be happy to be Obviously all of the car schemes are aware you. Or if you or someone that you know may members of their community. Each of the called on for other times and would be happy that petrol and diesel is expensive. All car benefit from the help that these car schemes offices have their own operating times and to help if you were free. It is important to schemes offer out of pocket petrol expenses. offer please give them a call. days which is based on their knowledge of note that the car schemes book you in They use a simple claim form so that you are the needs of that particular community. They advance of the job so you are not waiting by not out of pocket. Garry Poulson – Volunteer Centre West are all located in the heart of their community the phone for a job to come in. Berkshire and they are all set up as charities or com- Will my bad back mean I can’t help? munity groups with management committees Will I have to drive to places I don’t like? Volunteer drivers are not - as a matter of poli- of their own. Not if you don’t want to, a note would be cy - allowed to lift their passsengers. Could you benefit from made on the system to say that you would Voluntary car schemes don’t want you injur- Volunteer Drivers are always required to be prefer local jobs only. Some drivers prefer ing your own back or your passengers for transport assistance? able to meet the needs of their village, town longer jobs to hospitals in , Reading or that matter. So before a car scheme accepts or hamlet. If you are reading this and thinking if you are in and to a request for transport they will make sure - what is it that these drivers do? well read . All of the car schemes have holi- that the passenger is able to walk, albeit with Community Car Schemes are here to help you. Understanding, flexible Could you be a volunteer driver? and ready to help. If you could be, or even if you would just like some more Contact your local Scheme information please contact your local community car scheme from the list below to listed below, and they will be able to help. discuss your needs.

West Berkshire Community Car Scheme Operators

7 - Volunteer Group Contact: Susan Leman, The Surgery, High Street, Compton, A338 Newbury RG20 6NJ COMPTON A329 01635 578394 LAMBOURN 7 1 A34 Open Monday to Friday 10am - Noon Area covered: , , , Boxford, M4 A340 10 , , Cheiveley, Compton, Curridge, , Fawley, Farnborough, , Hampstead BRADFIELD Norreys, Hermitage, Leckampstead, . 9 A338 5 M4 A339 8 - Chapel Row Community Service Group 6 A4 11 HUNGERFORD 8 Angus Macdonald Contact: Georgian Cardy, Chapel Row, A4 A4 2 A34 COMMON Volunteer Driver 01189 713334 NEWBURY Open Monday, Wednesday & Friday 9.30am - 11.30am 4 A340 3 A343 Area covered: ,, , Lower A339 , and 9 - Bradfield Standby 1 - Lambourn Valley Volunteer Group 4 - Volunteer Centre West Berkshire Contact: Fred Syrett, The Surgery, Cock Lane, Bradfield Contact: Jane McCarthy, Gordon House, High Street, (Newbury Community Car Scheme) RG7 8HR Lambourn, RG17 8XL Contact: Garry Poulson, 1 Bolton Place, Newbury RG14 1QL 0118 9744972 01488 71536 01635 49004 Open Monday and Wednesday 10am - 12noon Open: Monday and Thursday 10am - 12noon Open: Monday to Friday 10am - 1pm Area covered: Bradfield, , Satnford Dingley, Areas Covered: Lambourn, Eastbury, , East Area covered: Newbury, Shaw, Speen, Donnington, Englefield and Calcot Garston, , Woodlands St. Mary & vicinity. 5 - Newbury & District Cancer Care Trust 10 - Pangbourne & District Volunteer Centre 2 - Chain (Transport for cancer patients only) Contact: Stan Palling, The Village Hall, Station Road, Contact: Jeanette Kersy, Unit 9, Kennet House,19 High Street, Hungerford RG17 0NL Contact: Deanwood Park Golf Club, Road, Pangbourne RG8 7DY Stockcross, Newbury RG20 8JP 01488 683727 0118 9844586 07717 783811 (this number for transport only) Open: Monday to Friday 9am - 11am Open Monday, Wednesday to Friday 9.30am - 11.30am Area covered: Hungerford Surgery Area and district Open: Monday to Friday 8.30am - 5.30pm Area covered: Pangbourne and surrounding parishes to Area covered: Newbury and District include, Purley, and 3 - Kintbury Volunteer Centre 11 - Burghfield & Mortimer Volunteer Bureau Contact: John Head, 2 Thatchers Yard, Church Street, 6 - Thatcham Volunteer Bureau Kintbury RG17 9TR Contact: Sue Whiddett, Flat 20 Gilbert Court, Bath Road, contact: Maria Lambourn, C/O The Post Office, Recreation Rd, Burghfield Common, Reading RG7 3EN Thatcham RG18 3AG 01488 657119 01189 831814 Open: Monday to Friday 9am - 11am 01635 862306 Open Monday to Friday 9.30am - 11.30am Area covered: Kintbury, , , Stockcross Open Monday to Friday 10am - Noon and Wickham Area covered: Thatcham and District, , Cookham Area covered: Burghfield and Mortimer, , and viscinity Ufton, and surrounding area www.volunteerwestberks.org.uk