COULD you be a vital link in the community? Melksham and District Link is looking for new transport co-ordinators.
The Melksham and District Link is a charity service that drives people to medical appointments across the region, making over 40 trips per week. Their clients include the elderly, less able, and those who cannot drive themselves.
The Link service will always welcome new drivers but the current need is for transport co-ordinators to replace their previous dedicated helpers.
The duty transport co-ordinator answers telephone calls from members of the public requesting transport to hospital and medical appointments and arrange a driver.
The co-ordinators record details of all requests, and communicate with both the drivers and clients to keep the service running smoothly. Some days are busier than others but this very worthwhile work can usually be fitted in around any other domestic chores! They work from their own homes using a mobile phone provided by Link.
The mobile phone has an answer machine, so you don’t need to stay at home and sit by the phone, you choose when you pick up the messages and pass on the jobs to the drivers, although most co-ordinators do this in the morning. Clients are required to give 48 hours’ notice when requesting transport.
You would be part of a team, although each person works individually, usually one week out of four but if more volunteers could be recruited it could be just one week in five or six.
The co-ordinators work closely with each other, handing over any relevant information when their duty week is finished.
If you are interested, phone for a chat, perhaps spend a few hours with one of the co-ordinators to see how it’s done, if you think it would be for you:
Telephone Jeanette Nash 01225 340589 or email Jeanette.m.nash @gmail.com
