£15,000 GRANT FOR VOLUNTARY CAR SERVICE IS GOOD NEWS FOR NEEDY PEOPLE IN BRIGG & DISTRICT

Brigg Blog was very pleased to see  North Lincolnshire Council announce today that it has given a £15,000  grant to keep the voluntary car service moving, as it benefits people in our district.
Brigg's Coun Rob Waltham, pictured, has praised the good work done by volunteers in getting people to and from health and social care appointments.

FROM CHRIS O'ROURKE, NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE COUNCIL

North Lincolnshire Council has given a grant of £15,000 to the Humber and Wolds Rural Community Council for their Voluntary Car Service.
Based at Baysgarth House Museum in Barton upon Humber, the Voluntary Car Service provides a lifeline for elderly, lonely, isolated or disabled residents living in rural communities. Volunteer drivers for the service take these passengers to doctor and hospital appointments, and social care and community activities around North Lincolnshire and beyond.
Cllr Rob Waltham, Leader of North Lincolnshire Council, praised the scheme saying, “the passenger feedback of the Voluntary Car Service shows that it is highly valued by users. These people rely on this service to help them get out and about, so it is only right to help this essential volunteer-run service to continue.”
North Lincolnshire Council has provided grants to the service for the past 20 years and the demand for the service is increasing.
In 2017 alone, 290 additional passengers registered for the service, bringing the total registered users to 540. In the 2016/17 financial year, these residents made 7,626 journeys through the Volunteer Car Service, a near 10 per cent increase on the previous year.
Tony Chase, the Vice Chair of Trustees of the Humber and Wolds Rural Community Council, said:
“Having first started in the 90s, the service is now very well established and is a real help for people who are unable to use public transport.
“The service is rapidly increasing in its size and its scope and the £15,000 grant from the council enables us to continue.”
Cllr Waltham continued: “I’d like to extend a huge thank you to the volunteer drivers for the Humber and Wolds Rural Community Council. Without them, it would be much more difficult for those who rely on this service to access their health and social care services and community activities, leaving them feeling isolated and impacted on their wellbeing.
“The number of volunteers for the service has increased over the last few years, helping the service keep up with increased demand from residents. By next year, we expect to see the volunteer drivers helping residents make 8,000 essential journeys a year.
“If you are interested in volunteering your time to make a real difference in your community, get in touch with the Humber and Wolds Rural Community Council – they’re always on the lookout for new drivers.”
If you want to find out more about the Humber and Wolds Rural Community Council’s Volunteer Car Service or are interested in volunteering, visit www.hwrcc.org.uk or contact the team on info@hwrcc.org.uk

Cllr Paul Vickers, Cllr Rob Waltham, Tony Chase, Carole Foster and a volunteer driver outside Baysgarth House Museum, Barton. PICTURE FROM NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE COUNCIL.