The Melksham and District Link Scheme is preparing for post-lockdown life.
The scheme is a volunteer organisation that provides transport to take local residents to their medical appointments if they have no friends or relatives who can take them and no other reasonable way to travel.
The organisation report, “When the pandemic struck and the initial lockdown was introduced, our drivers – the majority of whom are aged 70 or over – decided not to continue volunteering until it was safe to do so.
“We were left with just two volunteers willing to drive and two to receive client requests. Fortunately the reduction in demand largely matched the reduction in drivers and we were able to fulfil practically all requests. Even though the requests for transport had greatly reduced, volunteers did not cease their involvement with Link and the opportunity to update some of our working practices was seized upon.
“A dedicated website was created, and an online database is being introduced to record details of client requests, thus bringing us firmly into the 21st century.
“Over the months that followed several volunteers resumed driving and, more recently, there has been an influx of new volunteers, keen to help. We are also looking forward to the return of many of our more senior drivers when they have received their second vaccination. As well as our usual trips to hospitals and doctors we also take clients to dentists and opticians and, over the last few months, to get their Covid-19 jabs.”
To contact the duty coordinator to request transport just call 07979 129052 – Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. For more details please email melkshamlink@gmail.com or visit www.melkshamlink.com
