People interested in helping their communities to get out and about are being encouraged to mark this year’s National Volunteers’ Week by coming forward and teaming up with Westmorland and Furness Council’s Community Transport Service.
The week, which runs from 1-7 June, aims to highlight and celebrate volunteers and their contribution to our communities.
New faces are needed to join our voluntary social car schemes which provide transport for people who cannot make journeys by public or private transport.
Our Community Transport Service has a team of volunteers who have made thousands of journeys helping to get people out and about. There are a number of voluntary social car schemes operating throughout Westmorland and Furness providing journeys for people who need to do the weekly shop, see the doctor, or just to visit friends.
We are on the look-out for more people able to give up some of their spare time to be volunteer drivers or scheme coordinators. All expenses are reimbursed. As well as learning new skills and providing a lifeline for people without access to transport, signing up as a volunteer is a good way to meet new people and give something back to the community.
Volunteer co-ordinators are needed in the following areas:
- Sedbergh / Dent
- Ulverston / Dalton-in-Furness
Volunteer drivers are also needed in the following areas:
- Alston
- Kirkby Stephen
- Orton / Shap / Tebay
- Kendal
- Sedbergh / Dent
- Ulverston / Dalton-in-Furness
- Grange-over-Sands
Anyone interested in finding out more should contact Katy Wood, Voluntary Transport Officer, on 07788 396194.
Councillor Neil Hughes, Westmorland and Furness Council Cabinet Member for Transport, said:
“National Volunteers’ Week is a great opportunity to thank our community transport volunteers who do a fantastic job and play a vital role in getting people out and about. They make a real difference to our communities, and we couldn’t provide a service without their valued efforts.
“Volunteering is not only incredibly rewarding, but it can also provide an opportunity to learn new skills and meet new people. We are always looking for more volunteers to support our community transport schemes, especially the excellent voluntary social car scheme, so if you have some time to spare and would like to give something back to your community, we would love to hear from you.”