Responsible to: Operations & Befriending Lead

Expected hours: Flexible. Volunteer Drivers choose when they are available and which journeys they wish to undertake.

Expenses: Mileage expenses will be reimbursed in accordance with the Gosport Community Support Volunteer Expenses Policy. (Claiming expenses is entirely optional.)

Main Purpose

Volunteer Drivers provide safe, reliable and friendly transport for older and vulnerable residents of Gosport who may otherwise struggle to attend medical appointments, collect prescriptions, access community groups, go shopping or make other essential journeys.

By providing this service, Volunteer Drivers help people remain independent, reduce loneliness and improve health and wellbeing while enabling them to stay connected with their local community.

How the Role Works

There are no fixed shifts or minimum number of journeys. Drivers are offered journeys and can accept or decline each one according to their availability. Once a journey is accepted, please let us know as soon as possible if you can no longer undertake it.

Main Tasks

• Provide pre-arranged transport for service users using your own suitable vehicle.
• Offer a friendly, welcoming and respectful service throughout each journey.
• Offer reasonable assistance where appropriate, while never lifting or taking the weight of a passenger or providing personal care.
• Ensure passengers are safely delivered to their agreed destination and collected for their return journey where arranged.
• Ensure seatbelts are worn and walking aids or foldable mobility equipment are safely stored.
• Complete the required journey and mileage record following each journey.
• Maintain confidentiality and treat everyone with dignity, respect and without discrimination.
• Report any wellbeing, safeguarding, accident, incident or safety concern promptly to Gosport Community Support.
• Do not agree additional or private journeys directly with passengers; changes must be arranged through Gosport Community Support.

Volunteer Driver Responsibilities

• Carry a charged mobile phone while undertaking journeys.
• Drive safely and responsibly at all times and comply with the Highway Code.
• Wear your Gosport Community Support identification badge whenever possible while volunteering.
• Inform the office as soon as possible if you are unable to complete an agreed journey.
• Report any change to your driving licence, motor insurance, health or vehicle that may affect your ability to volunteer safely.
• Work in accordance with Gosport Community Support policies and procedures, including Safeguarding, Confidentiality, Lone Working, Data Protection and Health & Safety.

Driver Requirements

Volunteer Drivers should be friendly, patient, reliable, good communicators and comfortable supporting older and vulnerable adults. They should be able to maintain confidentiality and be willing to undertake induction and relevant training.

Volunteer Drivers must also:

• Hold a full, valid UK driving licence.
• Have access to a suitable, roadworthy vehicle that is taxed and has a valid MOT where required.
• Inform their motor insurer that they will be undertaking voluntary driving and provide confirmation that appropriate cover is in place.
• Provide driving licence, insurance and MOT evidence when requested. These checks will be repeated periodically, normally annually.
• Complete the required DBS check and provide satisfactory references before starting.

Payments and Donations

Passenger donations are handled centrally by Gosport Community Support wherever possible and are not payments to individual drivers. Drivers are not expected to discuss or negotiate the suggested donation with passengers. Cash may occasionally be accepted where necessary; clear instructions will be provided. Volunteers must never retain donations or deduct expenses from money collected.

What We Provide

• A full induction and Volunteer Driver Handbook.
• Ongoing support from Gosport Community Support.
• Relevant training opportunities.
• Reimbursement of authorised mileage at 55p per mile and agreed out-of-pocket expenses.
• Volunteer meetings and social opportunities.
• The satisfaction of making a genuine difference to people in the local community.

Our Values

We ask all volunteers to treat every individual with kindness, compassion, dignity and respect, recognising that a simple journey can make a significant difference to someone's independence, confidence and quality of life.