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Car Scheme Service
Information for Passengers

A team of volunteer drivers help people with disabilities, older people, sick children, people with learning disabilities and people with mental health problems to attend medical and similar appointments. Generally the driver stays with the passenger and brings them home again if required. A charge is made to the passenger to cover the cost of the volunteer's petrol. If you'd like more details, contact the Car Scheme Manager. Or you can phone us on 01457 865722. Download Car Scheme Passenger Leaflet

The Car Scheme is a service where Volunteer Drivers use their own vehicles take people to and from various places. The Drivers are not paid, but there is a small charge for the service to cover the costs of the drivers petrol.

Who can use the volunteer car scheme?

Car Scheme passengers have to meet certain criteria to be able to use the service. The Scheme is only available to anyone who, due to illness, age or disability, are unable to use public transport such as buses and trains to get about and would struggle to use taxis, or if you have a mental health condition that means you would be greatly distressed at travelling by public transport. Also, the scheme is open to anyone going to a hospital appointment for a procedure that will leave them unable to travel home alone. Regretfully, the scheme is not available on financial grounds.

How much will the scheme cost?

The Car Scheme Drivers are volunteers and do not receive payment. They are reimbursed only by the passenger for the cost of the petrol they have used on the journey. The journey costs are fixed, based on 40p per mile, (an example being a journey to Ashton under Lyne - ; cost £8.80) and you will be informed of the price prior to the journey. Money does not come through the office, instead, all passengers will pay the driver at the end of the journey itself.

Bookings and availability

We prefer people to book a week in advance of their jobs, and the absolute limit is three days notice. We do understand that this is sometimes not possible, so we always accept bookings that are very last minute. However, we can never guarantee a driver for these jobs. The drivers are volunteers, transport depends on their availability, and unfortunately sometimes there may be no car available for a job, and we apologise for this. However, this is very rare - out of 1365 jobs requested last year, only 52 were not covered.

Limits to the scheme & further information

As our drivers are volunteers and use their own cars, we regret that are unable to transport anyone with incontinence, anyone under 18 unless unaccompanied by an adult, or anyone with severe dementia or who is very confused. For these people an ambulance place is available - please contact your doctor.

Please do not smoke in the drivers cars if they do not wish you to do so. If you need a cigarette ask the driver if they mind you smoking, and if they ask you not to, please respect their wishes. All drivers have a green ID badge which they should wear on jobs. If you are unsure about any driver who comes to your house, please call this office. If you require a wheelchair for a job, we can lend you one for your appointment. Please ask the office for information. Friends or relatives are welcome to accompany you on your journey, please state this when booking your transport.

If you need to cancel your transport, please telephone 01457 865722 as soon as you can to do so.

Registration and booking

You can be referred to the car scheme by your doctor, nurse, health clinic, support worker, social worker, or you can refer yourself. Simply call on 01457 865722 and ask to be referred to the scheme. We will take a few details, including your date of birth and health support needs, so we can be sure that you are able to use the scheme. Once you are registered, you will be given your own unique client number, and from this point on just ring up and book your car - give the destination, appointment time and date, and if you are going to hospital, please inform us of the department you are visiting. Please give at least 3 days notice, if possible, when booking your job, to avoid disappointment.