Transport Partnership
Will you be a volunteer?
| Shirley is one of the team that answers the phone | Mick is one of the team of drivers for the mini-bus |
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| Taking calls from customers for the door-to-door bus service, and booking on the web. A land line phone, computer and internet access needed. Practice and out-of-pocket costs provided. | If you drive a car you could drive the mini-bus. You need a standard driving licence with a D1 classification (all licences before 1997 have this). Essential training, assessment and out-of-pocket costs paid.” |
Shirley Lentle – about being a ‘Phoney’ volunteer
When I’m asked why I like being on the team of volunteers who answer the ‘phone and take bookings I say “It’s giving back something to the community.” I like talking to people when they call in, I enjoy helping them to choose the journey and make the booking. I like people. I was a volunteer (dealing with local transport) in Dulwich and thoroughly enjoyed it.
I take my hands-free phone with me as I get on with jobs in the house, like ironing or bed-making, something I can stop doing when the ‘phone rings. I have my folder of information ready and the list of regular customers by the computer, so the booking can be entered right away. The computer bit is OK. We’re shown how to do it and help is usually at hand if needed. If the bus fails to run the driver tells the Phoney on duty. I let people know and arrange taxis so that passengers can complete their journeys. We can claim any out-of-pocket expenses.
Each month I choose the times when I can be on duty and they are arranged to fit in with the rest of my life. It doesn’t take up a lot of my time but when it’s my turn, I have to be at home to answer the’ phone. Usually it’s only a three hour duty in a morning or afternoon. Normally it’s once a week except when I have visitors or am on holiday.
One of our team called us the ‘Phoneys’ early on and the name stuck. Of course it’s spelled with a capital P. What’s fun about being a Phoney? You really get to know local people and hear all their latest news.
Mick Mortlock – about being a volunteer Driver
We’d just moved in and I was driving when we came up behind the bus with the sign “Drivers wanted”. So I got in touch. I was made very welcome. It was all explained to me, and they fed me well! I thought “I can be a volunteer, I can make the effort and spare the time, so I’ll do it!” I saw it was worthwhile, even better when I met the other volunteers at our get-togethers, it’s like a wonderful family and I enjoy it thoroughly.
It is rewarding. We help our passengers, providing the door-to-door service for shopping, to the doctor or the dentist and taking people to their meetings. I enjoy the company and chat. They are so pleased with the service and so friendly. It’s not always the same people because they choose when they want to travel and where they are going and book the bus. The driver gets a list of addresses to follow. Sometimes someone else will turn up without booking and we take them too if we can. There’s a lovely crowd on the Saturday bus. They don’t book, it’s a regular route, but there are plenty of people waiting at the bus stops.
I’ve being driving this size of vehicle for many years so I found the training easy. I enjoyed it. Of course you have to be trained and tested. You’re carrying the public as paying passengers and you have to see them safe and obey the rules.
It’s not a lot of time each month to do your turn on the rota. I choose times that suit me, but you have to be committed. You get the introduction, the training and belong to a great team, so you have to take it seriously.
or ring Joyce (763344) or Michael (760496)