Could you be a volunteer driver?

WE NEED you – that’s the message of a campaign which is seeking to boost the number of volunteer drivers across Hampshire.

Hampshire County Council has teamed up with the Hampshire Volunteer Centre Network, CVS Network and the Good Neighbours Support Service to run the drive for new recruits.

A recent survey of community groups found that about 50 per cent did not have enough drivers for the transport schemes they currently run.

Volunteers are needed to drive minibuses owned by not-for-profit organisations – subject to the appropriate training – or to carry passengers in their own cars for which they will receive a mileage allowance.

Councillor Mel Kendal, Hampshire’s deputy leader and executive member for environment and transport, said: “Community transport is often a lifeline for people to maintain their independence, so we are grateful to anyone who is willing to give up some of their free time to become a volunteer driver.”

Anyone interested in finding out about becoming a volunteer driver can get more details online at or by contacting the Hampshire Volunteer Centre Network on 0844 499 4088.

Comments(4)

LesFrèresCrucy says...
5:49pm Mon 15 Oct 12

I could be a volunteer driver, but I can't drive. Will there be free lessons and a licence and a taxed, insured and fuelled car?

Folkestone Saint says...
11:02pm Mon 15 Oct 12

LesFrèresCrucy wrote:
I could be a volunteer driver, but I can't drive. Will there be free lessons and a licence and a taxed, insured and fuelled car?
I a word no, this is for people who want to offer something to society not sponge off it. Although I cannot offer my services I do let my Doctors surgery know that during snow fall if they need to get help or prescriptions in an emergency I have one of those hated 4x4's with snow chains and will help as I hope others do, as for you les, you CAN be a volunteer walker

LesFrèresCrucy says...
1:33am Tue 16 Oct 12

It's decent when those who can afford to serve decide to do so*. If I was going to serve, on whatever mode of transport I could, I would need to know beforehand who exactly was going to benefit from my services.

'Society' is the broadest possible scope and a decent percentage of society is composed of people I don't want to help, because I don't like them.

If I was going to be a volunteer, the people for whom I would be volunteering would need to be vetted first, and vetted according to my particular standards.

Is that not perfectly reasonable of me, to be willing to sacrifice my time and effort, as long as my ideals weren't compromised?

* I think that's called 'Big Society'.

Best_Name_Ever says...
8:04am Tue 16 Oct 12

I think that is perfectly reasonable of you LesFrèresCrucy to vet people/organisations to your own standards before giving up your time. There is no benefit, either for you or to any organisation in volunteering if you do not want to be there.

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