Elizabeth’s story
“I have been a volunteer driver since I moved to the village in 1998. My parents had both been volunteer drivers and persuaded me to join the team. I am so glad I did, as it helped me to get to know the area and some of the residents who live here. It is an appealing and fulfilling role – I meet some interesting people, the hours are flexible and I get the satisfaction of knowing I am helping others. I must like it because so far I have completed 1200 journeys! I recommend giving it a try!”
Tim – an office volunteer
“I became an office volunteer in October 2021 after being “recruited” at the Woodcote Village Fete. Now retired, I have more time on my hands and wanted to do something of benefit to the village where I’ve been lucky enough to live for the past 30 years.
The office is manned from 9.30 to 11.00 every weekday morning by two people. Different volunteers work each day, so my only commitment is an hour and a half every week. If I’m on holiday or can’t make my slot for any reason, then there’s always someone else on the team happy to stand in. Likewise, I may be asked to cover for someone who is away.
The job is very straightforward – we take phone calls from clients who require transport and log the details on our automated booking system. If the request is urgent we will work through a list of potential drivers, calling each in turn until we find someone who can take the job. However most requests are handled by the system, which sends out an email at noon each weekday to all our volunteer drivers with the details of available bookings. A driver can then select a booking that suits them and the system is updated automatically. Most requests are for trips to local health centres, hospitals and shops, but some can simply be for a driver to pick up a prescription and deliver it to the client’s home.
You meet some interesting people and after a while you get to know the regular clients. They are very appreciative of what Woodcote Volunteers do, and this makes the job really worthwhile. I’ve also made new friends with my fellow office volunteers and even if we don’t get any calls at all, it’s a very pleasant way to spend a morning! If you have time on your hands and you want to give something back to the community then I would thoroughly recommend joining the team.”
Brian’s story
“I recently joined Woodcote Volunteers because I liked the idea of being able to help local people in need of transport to get them to their health appointments – or whatever else they would otherwise have difficulty getting to.
The new automated booking system works really well for both clients and drivers. We get a daily email listing the drives needed (sometimes if the drive is urgent and within the next couple of days, you will get a phone call) and if you think one of them would suit you, you can click on it to find out more, then accept the booking. An email is sent to you to confirm all the details and you phone the client to agree a pick up time and let them know the approximate cost (based on a 45p per mile mileage allowance). At the same time you get information about any mobility difficulties the client may have the client and whether I might need to pick up a wheelchair (supplied by Woodcote Volunteers).
My experience on the day of the appointment has been entirely positive. The clients are always highly appreciative of the service we provide, and it is a pleasure to get the opportunity to chat to them on the journey. For anyone who has a car and a bit of time to spare, I can heartily recommend joining our team of volunteer drivers.”
Helena – Former Chair of the Woodcote Volunteers
Having lived in Woodcote for 19 years, it was when my parents moved here and my father got involved as a volunteer driver that I learnt the extent of the support Woodcote Volunteers brings to residents. I was priviledged to be able to contribute to Woodcote Volunteers as Chair of the committee, to support all the essential work they do for our community, Woodcote and beyond. We have an active committee, always looking to support the needs of the neighbourhood and a very loyal cohort of office staff and drivers, delivering the best possible service. We are always looking for additional inspiration so if you have any ideas that we could include to broaden the scope of the services we can offer, just give us a call. If you need our services but are not sure whether you qualify, just ask. We are always looking for ways of helping out those in need, young or old.