Page 19 - Oundle Life October 2024

DRIVEN
TO HELP
Volunteer Action
Spotlight on Volunteer Action:
A lifeline for our community
For more than 28 years, Volunteer Action has been quietly but powerfully transforming lives in our rural communities. This small, registered charity, based in Oundle, serves Thrapston, Oundle, and 48 surrounding villages. What began as a modest operation has grown
into a cornerstone of local support,
providing two essential services: a
Community Transport Scheme and a Befriending Service.
A small charity with a big heart
Operating out of its Oundle office,
Volunteer Action is staffed by a
dedicated team consisting of a full-time manager and four part-time staff members. However, the true heart of this charity lies in its volunteers. Over 140 community volunteers, supported by eight office volunteers, give their time and energy to make sure that our rural communities are not forgotten.
The Community Transport Scheme:
Bridging the gap
Volunteer Action offers a Community Transport
Scheme. This scheme has become a lifeline
for more than 700 members, particularly
older adults and individuals with mobility restrictions. The transport scheme is driven by a network of approximately 70 volunteer drivers, who work hard to rural communities can get where they need to go.
Volunteer Action offers a Community Transport Scheme
In the past 12 months alone, Volunteer Action drivers have completed over 131,000 miles within over 12,000 trips, with more than
half of those being for medical appointments. For many, these trips are not just a matter of convenience but a necessity. In an area where public transportation is sparse and taxi
services
Scheme ensures that people don’t miss out on vital healthcare. Without this service, many would struggle to reach essential medical appointments, risking their health and well- being.
The Befriending Service: Combating loneliness
Alongside the transport scheme, Volunteer Action also runs a Befriending Service. Loneliness is an issue that affects many
are limited, the Community Transport
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