Who qualifies? 
What can the transport be used for? 
How does the scheme operate? 
How much does it cost? 
Who are the volunteer drivers? 
How do I join? 
Drivers Needed Urgently

Who qualifies?
Gedling CVS Voluntary Transport Scheme provides a service for residents in the Borough of Gedling who experience permanent or temporary mobility difficulties using public transport as a result of age, illness or infirmity, disability, location, geographical or social isolation, and who have no other means of transport available to them.

The client can be of any age group but children under the age of 14 years must be accompanied by an adult.
It is important to remember that a client must be able to help him or herself a little in getting into and out of the car.
A client needing additional help may book to take an escort provided they are collected from the clients home.

What can the transport be used for?
The voluntary transport can be used for any purpose for which other public transport services could normally be used. The following journey purposes are the ones that will be given priority :

• Shopping/ personal business trips into local centres
• Visits to friends and relations
• Interchange with train or long distance coach service
• Hospital visiting
• Medical appointments, e.g. doctors, dentists and chiropodists (but not hospital outpatient appointments)

How does the scheme operate?
Once a client has been registered, they should contact the office direct to book a journey.
 

The client must give at least 48 hours notice before a journey, it is never too early to book. In an emergency we will always do our best to help. 
It is illegal for drivers to make private arrangements for journeys and so all requests must be made through this office, and not to the drivers direct, even if the journeys are on a regular basis.
 

Due to the volume of requests for transport clients will only be allowed to make 3 journeys in any one week.

How much does it cost?
There is an annual registration fee, which currently stands at £10 per person, renewable annually on 1st April.

Journeys undertaken are currently charged at a rate of 21p per mile if the client holds a bus pass and 42p per mile without, paid by the client to the driver. Mileage is charged from the driver’s home to the client’s home, to their destination and then back to the driver’s home again.  It is policy to try and send a local driver but this is not always possible. 

In certain circumstances the driver may wait up to 30 minutes for a client at their destination e.g. Doctor’s appointment.

However, in the event of a longer visit the driver will not be able to wait for the client but will return later to pick them up. This means that the client will then be charged for the double journey of the driver. 

Who are the volunteer drivers?
The drivers are all volunteers who offer their services and cars freely for the benefit of the clients, they are not taxi drivers and 
without them the scheme cannot run. The drivers receive no pay for their time but are reimbursed for their fuel costs in providing the service to clients.

Each driver completes a comprehensive application form. Driving licences, MOT documents and insurance details are also checked. All new drivers are also CRB checked. The drivers are a friendly, caring team of people who have a concern for others in their neighbourhood. The drivers carry an authorisation badge, clearly showing who they are.

How do I join?
In order to register as a client of the scheme you need to complete a registration form (available from the office on request) and send it, together with the registration fee, in an envelope marked ‘Private and Confidential’ to the CVS.



Drivers Needed Urgently

We need drivers to take the elderly and disabled clients to essential appointments. All our Drivers are volunteers and work hours to suit themselves.

A petrol allowance of 40p per mile is paid from the driver's home. If you have a few hours a week to help people that have no other means of transport please phone Peter Chettle on 0115 926 6750.

The Volunteer Centre Arnot Hill House, Arnot Hill Park, Nottingham Road, Arnold, Nottingham, NG5 6LU
Tel: 0115 926 6750   Email: admin@gedlingcvs.org.uk

Company Number:5239446    Registered Charity:1108272