Volunteer Stories

Erica – a volunteer driver

“I’d seen the advert for Woodcote Volunteers in the Woodcote Correspondent several times, but until recently family commitments had prevented me from signing up. However, once these other commitments eased, I felt ready to put myself forward as a volunteer driver. Having been through the usual induction process (DBS checks etc.), I started driving at the end of 2025. And I’m loving it! I’m doing one or two drives a week, and I’ve already met many people living in and around Woodcote, both fellow volunteers and service users. The clients are mostly elderly and no longer able to drive for various reasons. They’re a joy to talk to, all having led interesting lives, and some with more than nine decades of life experience and wisdom to share. (Not that you would know their age unless they told you that you were driving them to their 90th birthday party!). The clients are without exception very grateful to the volunteers. Until I started volunteering, I’d not realised just how many people are entirely reliant on others to get to shops, the pharmacy, hospital appointments, the optician etc., not to mention community support groups. Were it not for the service Woodcote Volunteers provide, every appointment would be a worry. Importantly for the volunteer, you can do as many or as few drives as you are able. I do one regular drive a week, which suits my routine, but other drivers prefer the flexibility of being able to pick and choose which drives they’ll take on. If you’re still wondering whether becoming a volunteer driver is for you, I cannot hesitate to recommend it. You’ll be joining a lovely group of volunteers, and it’s a wonderful way to meet new people and to make new friends within the community”.

 

Sarah – Our Chair

“Five years ago, after moving to Whitchurch Hill and reducing my working week to four days, I wanted to find a way to give back to the community. That’s when I discovered Woodcote Volunteers – and became a driver.  Driving for the charity is a win-win:  not only does it provide a much-needed service to our local community, it gives me the chance to:

• Meet fascinating people and hear their stories
• Give something back without a huge time commitment
• Feel the gratitude of those we help – something you can truly see and feel

The more I drove, the more I realised what an incredible service Woodcote Volunteers provides. It’s not just about transport – it’s about connection. From regular coffee mornings to tea parties, the charity creates social opportunities that combat isolation.

So, when the Chair position became available, I was delighted to put my name forward. Working with such an experienced and passionate committee has made the transition easy – and inspiring.  Even after 40+ years, Woodcote Volunteers continues to adapt. This year, we launched a Digital Support service, offering one-to-one help for people who want to get online safely and confidently. It’s just one example of how we’re finding new ways to support those in Woodcote and surrounding villages who experience isolation.

I have found being part of Woodcote Volunteers is rewarding, meaningful, and fun..”

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.”