The Voluntary Car Service (VCS) is made up of a team of dedicated, volunteer drivers and passenger assistants (escorts) whose job is to provide transport for special needs people.
The VCS is funded by Shropshire County Council's Education Department and Social Care and Health and is based in the Integrated Transport Unit (ITU) at the County Council offices in Shirehall, Shrewsbury.
The project is managed and run by the Voluntary Car Service Co-ordinator and Assistant, who are employed by the Community Council of Shropshire (CCS).
Currently, the VCS has more than 100 volunteer drivers and escorts who, between them, have covered around 1.4 million miles on journeys within out outside Shropshire. The volunteers carry out a number of regular journeys, such as taking a special needs child from home to school, or driving an older person to a day centre.
The majority of volunteers are retired and have welcomed the opportunity to support their local community. Drivers and escorts provide a stable, caring service for local people and are able to forge excellent relationships with passengers.
Shropshire County Council pays a set rate for mileage and a contribution towards telephone costs. These are paid monthly in arrears. Escorts are paid a set amount for each journey.
- Volunteer drivers and escorts can offer as much or as little time as they like. No formal training is required, but drivers must be medically fit to drive in accordance with DVLA requirements (visit www.dvla.gov.uk for details*) and must undertake a County Council Driver Assessment. (*this link will open in a new browser window)
- You will also need to provide two character references and must satisfy a Criminal Records Bureau check. For details visit:
www.crb.gov.uk » (This link will open in a new browser window)
- For full details of the tax allowances for voluntary driving mileage, visit:
www.hmrc.gov.uk/mileage/volunteer-drivers.htm » (This link will open in a new browser window)
- For full details about community transport in Shropshire, visit the County Council website on:
www.shropshire.gov.uk/traveltransport.nsf » (This link will open in a new browser window)
If you are interested in registering as a volunteer driver or escort, call Mark Powell, Voluntary Car Service Co-ordinator, on 01743 253311.
Alternatively, you can download the relevant application forms by clicking the links below:
Driver Registration Form
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(This link will open in a new browser window)
Passenger Assistant Registration Form
[77k] »
(This link will open in a new browser window)
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This page was last updated on: 12th April 2006