Could you Volunteer as a Driver for the Saltash Hopper?

In 2011 the Saltash Gateway CIC procured a 16 seater, or a 6 wheelchair carrier, Mercedes Sprinter Minibus, fitted with a 300kg wheelchair lift, from the Cornwall Council. The project was also successful in winning £6,000 from the NatWest Community Fund towards the scheme by your votes.

The Saltash Hopper is now painted, insured and ready for service for the PL12 rural areas; all it needs is help from you! Saltash Gateway CIC is run by volunteers and they need people willing to volunteer their time as drivers for this worthwhile local project.

Volunteer Cornwall (VC) at Truro and Liskeard are now recruiting volunteer drivers, checking and training. All applicants will be CRB checked and required to undertake a Minibus Driver Awareness Scheme (MIDAS) and safeguarding training (at no cost to the applicant). There is no limit to the maximum number of volunteers who can apply.

Drivers interested in volunteering should contact VC on (01579) 344818 or by email:  east@volunteercornwall.org.uk. Volunteers must be over 21 years of age and hold a full clean driving license. Volunteers over 70 years of age not holding these should contact the Project Leader, Colin Brown, through VC.

Saltash Gateway CIC is in the process of determining routes and time tables, which is expected to start in late March. When more information becomes available it will be posted on the Saltash & District Minibus website.

The Saltash Hopper will be run under a non-profit-making business. Transport provided may include a small fare which may have to be charged to offset some of the costs of running the service, but CIC will be reliant on external assistance to maintain and expand the project.

The CIC Community Transport Project is guided by an Advisory Group made up of the Community Transport leaders within Cornwall Council, Volunteer Cornwall and Age Concern Cornwall. Saltash Gateway CIC is a member of the National Community Transport Association (CTA).

For more general information about volunteering click here. Pictures reproduced by kind permission of Colin Brown, Project Leader.