Volunteers
Can you offer a helping hand to people in your local area by going the extra mile?
Volunteering with Swindon Dial A Ride is a very rewarding experience and is a great way to develop new skills, meet new friends and help people get out and about. We are always recruiting car and minibus drivers. We meet our volunteers’ expenses and provide training and support.
Swindon Dial A Ride services have been described as a lifeline as access to transport helps people retain their independence and prevents loneliness and isolation. Imagine being unable to go shopping, visit loved ones or attend vital health appointments.
If you enjoy driving, like people and have some spare time you can make a big difference to people’s lives. You can volunteer several days a week, or half a day a fortnight – give as much or as little time as you choose.
We need people to drive their own cars for the Volunteer Car Service and people to drive Swindon Dial A Ride’s wheelchair accessible vehicles.
All our volunteer drivers will need to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service (criminal records) check and provide two personal/character references.
We are also keen to hear from volunteers prepared to share their skills in business, finance, marketing and networking and who might consider joining the management committee of Swindon Dial A Ride.
Volunteers Car Service Drivers
We are in particular need of additional drivers to drive their own cars to provide transport for frail elderly, disabled and vulnerable adults in the Swindon area to attend medical appointments, make essential journeys and join in social activities.
A mileage allowance is paid to cover out of pocket expenses when using your own car. Journeys will be offered to you with as much notice as possible, and you are free to accept as many or as few as you wish to.
Don's story
“I joined the Volunteer Car Service in 2018 and have enjoyed every journey, whether just around the corner to a doctor or longer day trips. It has been an opportunity to meet some lovely people and enjoy their interesting stories, everybody has some of these to relate. When I am asked by passengers why I do this voluntary service, I always say that if I get in the position of needing to be driven somewhere, I hope there will be somebody like me to help.”
Minibus Drivers
Our minibus drivers drive our fleet of fully-accessible minibuses and cars to help individuals and community groups get to and from their activities. Drivers must be over 21 years of age and have a clean driving licence which they have held for at least two years. We offer full training and on-going support.
Ray’s story
Ray has been a volunteer driver for Dial a Ride for ten years. He drives the minibus once a week, taking passengers to the supermarket, doctors’ surgery, Swindon town centre, hospital appointments, and to relatives houses for visits.
“I was a long-distance lorry driver for most of my working life. I travelled all over the country. When I retired my wife and I went travelling for a bit and then I wondered what I should do next.
"I wanted to use some of this spare time I had to volunteer and give something back to the community, but I had no idea what to do. Then one day I was sat at my window and I saw a Dial A Ride minibus go past and thought – now that is something I would enjoy doing.
“Volunteering can be a bit daunting at first, and it won’t suit everyone. You have to be able to deal with lots of different people and the job can at times be quite demanding. But it is also highly rewarding. You get to build a relationship with your regular passengers. You get to know which ones will want a hand with their shopping and which ones want to do it on their own. Public transport is non-existent in some areas, particularly the rural places. And if you cannot drive anymore then it is very easy for you to become isolated. Dial A Ride gives people back their independence and dignity and I get a warm glow inside from being able to help them. The rest of the Dial A Ride team are all very friendly and helpful and we all look out for each other. It’s quite easy to become a driver and anyone can do it. You just have to take a course on how to drive the minibuses and operate the wheelchair lift”.