Why become a volunteer driver?

Children are marvellous at making friends, the older we get the less we do it, in fact we are a bit rubbish at it. It is not like we don’t have the skill; we just don’t do it.

Finding a new lease of life, through volunteering

Retirement can be a polarising point. We lose our work colleagues and the daily banter and chit chat. We don’t miss the work, just the people.

Many do more with less people in retirement, and as the years go on the pool of people closes. At Community Action in Malvern, we have seen people from all social classes isolated in later life. This is where we help, we are the lifeline to social events, the hairdressers, the doctors and everything else that requires transport.

Our volunteer drivers are part of the glue holding part of the community together, (mileage is paid to the volunteers). Many of our volunteer drivers start after retirement to keep busy. They feel they want to give back to the community. Our volunteers continue to volunteer because of the people they meet, and the friendships made, in addition to the pride they feel in helping the community.

We have over eighty volunteer drivers but that is only scratching the surface of the demand. Some volunteers fill their week giving lifts! Most just do a few lifts a month, everything helps.

It is our community; it is what we make it. We know the more people are connected to people, the happier they are.

Become a stickier part of that community glue, get involved in any way with your community, build the community you want, if it is not fun, do something else, keep looking, keep making connections then one day there will be no need for Community Action.

How to get involved

If you want to get involved as a driver for Community Action, or you want to volunteer for anything contact Sam on 01684 892381 or email volunteering@communityaction.org.uk

Nigel Tinsdale

Project Support Officer