Driver Recruitment - A Plea

Community/voluntary transport schemes provide essential services to people who either cannot use conventional forms of public/private transport or do not have access to it.

Many organisations listed in the Community Transport Directory are facing serious problems in recruiting drivers. Without drivers, either voluntary or paid, the services cannot exist.

For many people community/voluntary transport offers their only chance of getting out to do shopping, visit friends or relatives, or enjoy leisure activities that most of us take for granted.

The type of driving duties will depend on the organisation - some can use, by law, only volunteer drivers, others are able to pay a competitive rate for drivers time. The hours available can often be as short or as long as you desire. For instance, a community bus operation using volunteer drivers would welcome drivers who could offer as little as one morning/afternoon per week. Other community transport organisations may be seeking individuals who would be paid to drive for longer periods.

If you, or someone you know, are interested in becoming a driver, voluntary or paid, minibus or car, then please contact me at the address below. Opportunities exist throughout the county.

Community Transport can be defined as: "A transport service organised by members of a community that provides not for profit transport for individuals or groups within that community".

Please help us to make a difference, without your help, many of the schemes in the Community Transport Directory may cease to exist in the future.

Philip Ayers
Project Leader
East Sussex RTP
Tel: 01273 407329
Fax: 01273 483109
Email: philip.ayers@ruralsussex.org.uk