MELKSHAM Link held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the Riverside Club last week and said goodbye and thank you to long serving Secretary, Heather Newman, who is retiring from the role.
Chairman Richard Bell said, “Heather has dragged our policies and procedures into the twenty-first century and has really helped us become more efficient with our paperwork. She will be much missed.”
Heather was presented with a bouquet and gift card from the committee as a token of their thanks.
The charity reports, “The AGM reflected on another very busy past year as we all started on the post-Covid return to normal, with the number of clients requiring lifts increasing vastly.
“In the last year, Melksham Link drivers made 1,555 journeys, clocking 47660 miles. Clients can be taken on very short journeys to their doctors or dentist, or much further afield to appointments in Bath, Bristol or Swindon.
“Link is a charitable organisation that offers lifts to medical appointments for local people who have no other way of getting there. Drivers then wait for their clients and take them home afterwards.”
Melksham Town Council clerk, Linda Roberts, spoke to the volunteers at the meeting to express the ‘grateful thanks’ of the town council and local people for the invaluable service that the volunteers provide.
Fortunately, Melksham Link has been able to appoint a new secretary, but it always needs more drivers and other volunteers to help with administrative tasks such as co-ordinating lifts.
Richard Bell said, “All members of Link say how rewarding this volunteering role is, helping and meeting local people. Drivers are recompensed with expenses for their journeys and they can commit to as much or as little time as they choose. It’s a very flexible volunteering role.”
Anyone interested in volunteering or using the service can call Link on 07979 129052 to find out more.
Link also has a new website giving more details of our services and how to access them, www.melkshamlink.com
