Thursday, March 28, 2024
HomeViewsReaders' ViewsVery rewarding voluntary work

Very rewarding voluntary work

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Following your article in the July/August edition about Bromsgrove Rural Rides, I would just like to add a few comments as a volunteer driver in the hope of encouraging others to join us.

One thing that may deter retired people from volunteering may be not wishing to tie themselves down to set days or times each week. The great thing about Rural Rides is that you can do as little or as much as you want, as and when you want, on different days each week.

What happens is that one of the co-ordinators will phone you, usually on Thursday, to ask when you are free the following week, and so it is up to you to offer what you like. So you can retain the freedom of time which is such a joy in retirement, together with taking part in what I have found to be the most rewarding form of voluntary work.

This leads on to another point I wanted to stress; that I have found all our “clients” are so very grateful for the service.

A great many of them are people who have had to give up their own cars and the freedom that gives, and the fact that we not only take them to the doctor or hospitals for appointments, but wait for them so they can go home immediately, means a great deal.

Also there are times when it is quite obvious that just a friendly face and words can be a great help before a rather stressful appointment.

As usual with voluntary work, it works both ways. I live alone and being a driver means I get out of the house, meet all sorts of interesting and varied people, and feel that perhaps having a car is not such a selfish thing as some politicians would have us believe.

So please, if you have any free time and a car, do think of joining us.

Bridget Edger, Cofton Hackett
(The contact numbers are: 0845 601 4670 or Anne Fox on 01527 67771)