Can you help Melksham Link? Community transport scheme is looking for volunteers

VOLUNTEER transport scheme, Melksham Link, is appealing for help to continue its much-needed service. 

Chairman Richard Bell says, “Melksham And District Link Scheme, to give its full title, is a small local charity, run by volunteers, that provides transport to medical appointments for residents who have no other way to get to them.   

“We’ve been in existence for nearly 30 years and as Melksham town and surrounding villages have grown, so has the number of requests for transport. In 2021 we completed over 1,500 trips to various hospitals, doctors and other medical establishments and we’re getting busier now that the NHS are starting to try and catch up with outstanding appointments. 

“We have operated throughout the Covid pandemic, practising safety measures to protect our drivers and clients. These continue today. 

“To help both clients and volunteers by speeding up the booking process we have moved away from our old paper-based system to a modern on-line database that stores all relevant details for the trips undertaken.   

“We also have a website (www.melkshamlink.com) that has information for clients and volunteers alike and provides links to contact the duty coordinator. 

“We’re always looking to recruit new volunteers, but our current need is for a Secretary to replace our current one who retires this year. Without a Secretary we cannot continue to operate. 

“The main job of the Secretary is to help the Chairman plan quarterly committee meetings and the Annual General Meeting and to take minutes of those meetings. There’s not a lot of writing to do as reports by committee members are completed and circulated by them prior to each meeting.   

“If you can use a computer and are interested in joining us as Secretary please give us a call on 07979 129052 or email us at melkshamlink@ gmail.com.”