Eynsham Car Scheme – Picking up Pace Again!
Volunteer drivers from Eynsham Car Scheme provide a much-needed service in taking clients from the village with reduced mobility or other problems to their health care appointments.
Pre-pandemic two dozen drivers were responding to more than 500 calls in a year. Everything reduced but as the summer ended last year the pace was starting to increase again. In the last six months (to the end of March 2022) we have
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Answered nearly 190 phone calls
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Provided Covid protection for all drives – masks, sanitisation, ventilation
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Taken 140 clients to their appointments and back
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Driven over 2500 miles – to places in Eynsham, Witney, Oxford and Banbury
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Done all this with only 6-12 drivers available at any one time!
We have one big challenge at present. The NHS – under enormous pressure to reduce waiting lists and facing Covid staff absences and Covid amongst its patients across the piece - has been calling in patients or changing appointments at very short notice. We do what we can. Only 4 times in the last six months have we had to say sorry – no driver available. But with an increasing demand, we now need to build the driver team back to those pre-pandemic levels.
If you are thinking of becoming a volunteer driver, remember:
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There is no fixed commitment, you just respond to requests when you can
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You can drive only to local venues if you wish
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We reimburse your expenses
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Even offering one drive a month would be a help to us
If you are thinking of using our services:
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Give us as much notice as you can – at least 5 working days if possible
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If no one answers, always leave a brief message – we will call you back
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Don’t let the thought of making a donation to help cover your journey put you off – give what you can if you can
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But if you do have family or friends willing to take you please ask them first
Potential driver or client – give us a call - Eynsham Car Scheme 07469 764174