A Volunteer Driver’s Perspective

I have been a Volunteer Driver for eight years. I initially started doing the job when I took early retirement and was looking for something interesting and worthwhile to fill my time.

In summer 1995 there was a “Volunteering” Expo at Parklands Leisure Centre in Oadby - I went along and met staff from the “Oadby & Wigston Volunteer Bureau” as it was called then – they soon signed me up and the rest, as they say, is history!!

Many of us “old hands” still nostalgically refer to “The Volunteer Bureau” or “The Bureau”. It had another re-incarnation after that to become TOPS (The Old Potting Shed), but this name was even less memorable and the initials were always being confused with a local Taxi Company (TOPPS), which didn’t help.

I enjoy driving and meeting people and this seemed the ideal opportunity to do both. It’s nice to be able to meet a wide variety of different people with their own highly individual and sometimes quirky characters (both Clients and Volunteers that is!!). Although we meet people we help as clients initially, before long they invariably become good friends. There are people I know really well, having been taking them around for most of the eight years, but some are inevitably no longer with us and, sadly, I have attended a fair number of funerals during this time.

Our clients can be frail and elderly and/or disabled/special needs of any age, but universally they are all very grateful for the service we provide and are always telling us so. A common comment is “I don’t know what I’d do without you/this service” or “I’ve only just found out about you people, it’s wonderful”. We are at pains to point out that we are not a Taxi service, we are Volunteer Drivers. Established clients appreciate this difference and explain it to their friends who ask about VAOW. Family/friends of new clients who announce, when we arrive, “your Taxi’s here”, soon have the subtle difference explained to them!!

Although I live on the borders of Evington, I feel that I have become an honorary citizen of Oadby & Wigston because I spend so much time there!! – there are not many obscure cul-de-sacs and closes or nearly invisible back alleys on new estates that I haven’t had a passing acquaintance with over the years. “Did you find me all right love, the last man got completely lost” is a common cry. Armed with a decent map, nowhere is safe from the prying attention of a VAOW driver, and with the advent of the mobile ‘phone, our beloved “Car Care Scheme Co-ordinator” (Janet, she who must always be obeyed) can re-direct us at will, and usually does!!

I tend to work variable hours each week, to fit in with other things I do, and because of this I’m often able to help out at short notice with extra or “emergency” runs. This adds to the interest and the variety – you’ve heard of the flying doctor, now meet the flying volunteer!! The service is becoming so popular, that some weeks (especially when other drivers are on holiday); we feel we need our own helicopter to cover some of our runs. I’ve had some contact with other local Car Care Schemes, and the Oadby & Wigston one is by far the best – the most comprehensive and the most well organised. More drivers would come on board if they realised how enjoyable, variable and satisfying the work is – we must do our best to persuade them.