A group of dedicated volunteers in Theale have received funding from the Englefield Charitable Trust to continue providing transport for people who either cannot drive or struggle to use public transport.
Standby Volunteer Group, who are based at Theale Medical Centre, volunteer their time and vehicles to helping people in the community to get to hospital and doctors’ appointments. This service is aimed at supporting the elderly or disabled members of the community.
The group relies on donations to cover mileage costs and to provide parking permits to the drivers to park as close as possible to clinics and hospitals for the ease of the passengers.
Catherine Haig, Chair of the Englefield Charitable Trust said: “The volunteers at Standby do a fantastic job of supporting the local community to get to valuable appointments when other modes of transport are not as accessible. We’re proud to be supporting this charity who put the community at the heart of what they do”.
In West Berkshire there are 14 volunteer-run Community Transport groups providing travel assistance to people who are unable to access other forms of transport. Standby Volunteer Group covers Bradfield, Theale, Stanford Dingley, Englefield, and Calcot.