Date: 28 September 2006 22:14

GIVE A LIFT TO NEW VOLUNTEER TRANSPORT SCHEME

Volunteers in the Rampton area are asked to come forward and give a morning 
or afternoon per week or month to help the newly formed Rampton Community 
Car Scheme.

Thanks to the efforts of Rampton Parish Councillor Stan Neal, Care Network 
and Cambridgeshire County Council, this new community-based scheme is due to 
start on 1st November this year.

A public meeting to discuss the setting up of the scheme will be held on 
Tuesday 3rd October 2006 at 7.30pm at the Village Hall, Rampton.

The purpose of this scheme is to offer transport to those who have 
difficulty using public transport, such as mobility issues, or have no other 
means of transport.

The scheme could be used to get to the local GP surgery or dentist, to pick 
up a prescription, to local hospitals for outpatients appointments or 
visiting relatives or friends, connect with buses or  trains, or even to the 
local shop.

The new scheme in Rampton will join more than 50 other schemes throughout 
the county that are run by groups of volunteers who have offered to give 
their time to help others. Volunteer drivers use their own vehicles, for 
which a mileage allowance for expenses is available as well as additional 
insurance cover. Cambridgeshire County Council assists in the setting up of 
such schemes as part of their ongoing commitment to support Community 
Transport schemes throughout the County, such as Dial-a-Ride schemes and 
social car schemes.

 Many volunteer drivers give their time because they have a few hours to 
spare, or have recently retired and want to keep active, or have recently 
moved into the area, and wish to meet and help people in their immediate 
community.

Rampton Parish Councillor Stan Neal said: "We are delighted that we have 
been able to introduce such a socially necessary scheme for use by the 
people of Rampton and area. However, we still need more volunteers to come 
forward and offer their time, even if it is one or two hours a month, so we 
can keep up with the potential demand."

Gavin Moulton, Community Transport Officer for Cambridgeshire County 
Council, said: "We are extremely pleased to be able to support another 
community initiative, particularly in this part of Cambridgeshire that, 
although close to Cambridge, is rurally isolated. We hope that this scheme 
encourages other parishes in the area and beyond to form their own schemes 
too. Scheme co-ordinators from other such schemes often receive positive 
comments from those who use their scheme, which is clear evidence that those 
offering transport and their time are actually making a difference to their 
community. Many feel they have regained their independence and the 
opportunity to meet people, without relying on family or friends to make 
essential journeys, which would otherwise mean a housebound existence if 
such schemes did not exist."

If you would like to know more about the Rampton scheme, or about any the 
schemes throughout the county, or are interested in volunteer driving, 
please telephone Gavin Moulton, Community Transport Officer at 
Cambridgeshire County Council on 01223 717755 or Alison Bourne at Care 
Network on 01954 211875.

John Reynolds