MidMid----WealdWeald Voluntary Cars Forum Working to provide mutual support and ppromoteromote furtherfurther development in Community Transport The Mid-Weald Voluntary Cars Forum Local Voluntary Driving Schemes provide a wonderful and simple solution to transport problems in rural areas particularly for the older, more vulnerable or disabled residents. They all operate differently – some are dedicated wholly to transporting people to medical appointments, surgeries and hospitals and others take people to a whole range of different locations and activities. Many incorporate further ‘good neighbour’ services or link with other Village Groups providing support and activities aimed reducing social isolation. It is very much down to the Volunteers involved in each individual Scheme to respond to the needs of their community, set their own criteria and decide how they would like to operate. The Action in rural Sussex Village Care Programme helped to identify and set up a network of such Schemes which developed into the Mid- Weald Voluntary Cars Forum with the aim of providing mutual support and promote further development in Community Transport. Support has been provided with co-ordination and a pack of information created to include guidelines, copy leaflets, procedures and documents which can be helpful to new Schemes setting up. At meetings, initiated, organised and led by the Village Care Programme, volunteers from schemes exchange information, share good practice, keep up to date with policies and procedures, work together and also encourage and assist other communities to set up Schemes. The Forum has drawn up Terms of Reference and the network incorporates representatives from Schemes operating in Mayfield and Five Ashes, Rotherfield, Crowborough, Jarvis Brook, Heathfield, Waldron, Cross in Hand, Horam, Uckfield, Framfield, Groombridge, Forest Row, Hartfield, Colemans Hatch, Hadlow Down, Wadhurst, East Hoathley, Uckfield and surrounding villages, Alfriston, Deanland Wood Park and Ticehurst . Feedback from Voluntary Cars Schemes, linked with the network, has been extremely positive and new Schemes have also been set up, where there were gaps, resulting in more joined up services. ‘It is so useful and supportive to hear how other volunteers do things’ ‘I have now got the Parking Permits sorted out, thanks to John who shared his knowledge at the last meeting’ ‘Now that we know about each other, we contact each other regularly and even share volunteer drivers. Thanks to AirS, I have now been able to sort out the insurance problems experienced by a couple of our drivers’ Caroline Scotter Action in rural Sussex Village Care Project Date: Oct 2012 .