Warwickshire News Mine

Last year in Warwickshire 363 volunteers completed 29,500 journeys covering 326,458 miles, taking them 8,000 hours.

Without these volunteers to help people in Warwickshire it is likely many more essential health appointment would be missed due to the travel costs faced or because other forms of transport just aren’t suitable or available. Plus the voluntary schemes in the county free up the ambulance service time.

But until now the many schemes have been operating in isolation, yesterday saw the launch of Warwickshire Voluntary Transport.

WVT is the group formed by all five of Warwickshire’s voluntary car schemes to give them a new, common platform. Its main purpose is to work at improving relations and negotiations with health partners and to increase recognition for all the valuable work done. It fits well alongside Warwickshire County Council’s joint working efforts with the PCT on an Improving Patient Access to Health project.

There are five members consisting of Beeline Community Transport in North Warwickshire, Medi-Car Transport Service - Nuneaton & Bedworth, WCAVA Volunteer Centre Rugby’s Hospital Car Scheme, Stratford-on-Avon’s network of four community car schemes operated by Voluntary Action Stratford-on-Avon District and the Health Travel Service serving the Older People of Warwick District.

There has been additional support from Warwickshire County Council and the Older Persons Forums. This partnership will ensure that standards and procedures can be rolled out across the county and provide support to each other to overcome operational and financial problems.

Each individual transport system has been serving their area for many years and the impact that they have made, both singly and collectively has been immense.

The new partnership will also mean that all new volunteer drivers will have to have a good driving record and at least three years’ experience, together with a CRB check: they will also have use of the Warwickshire Voluntary Transport Logo while on duty, as well as access to a commonly agreed support and training procedure, all of which is designed for the benefit of both client and volunteer.

Cllr Heather Timms, portfolio holder for Customers, Workforce and Partnership with Warwickshire County Council said:  “This scheme will help everybody involved in voluntary transport, from drivers to service users, and will improve what has already been a resounding success.

“The added support from the county council and the older people’s forums will help to avert any financial problems and the pooling of the resources will ensure that operational problems – such as a shortage of vehicles – will become less likely.  I’m delighted to see so many different agencies come together to deliver an even stronger service for the community.”

Anyone wanting to know more about the partnership or their local service should contact Sue Palanganda, Chief Officer of the Volunteer Centre – Nuneaton and Bedworth on 024 7631 5151.

Link to WCC