A COMMUNITY service in Ellesmere is looking for volunteer car drivers and coordinators to help run it as a vital service.

Ellesmere Community Cars is a scheme that will provide transport for essential journeys where public transport is either unsuitable or not available and the passenger does not have access to a vehicle, or if a passenger might not be feeling well enough to drive. 

According to organiser Anne Wignall, a town councillor and mayor, the service could provide for trips to the GP, hospital, dentist, optician, physio appointments, trips to pick up prescriptions, go shopping, visit the bank, or to visit sick or elderly friends or family.

Passengers will be asked to contribute 30p per mile towards the cost of the journey, and the scheme is supported by Shropshire Council.

She said: "The Ellesmere Community Cars Scheme provides a great opportunity for volunteers to make a valuable contribution to the community.

“If you are a car driver with time to spare, and you enjoy meeting and helping people, we would love to hear from you.

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“We also need one or more coordinators to help get people where they need to go.

“Coordinators can work from home responding to journey requests and arranging the transport with available drivers."

Volunteer drivers use their own vehicles and the Council reimburses at a set mileage rate for each journey.

As with coordinators, drivers are reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses – passengers will pay any parking costs.

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The scheme is based in Ellesmere and will also serve the surrounding villages. 

Mrs Wignall continued: "As soon as we have volunteers in place, we will publicise contact details for Ellesmere Community Cars and members of the public will be encouraged to book journeys with us."

To express an interest in volunteering and to find out more, please contact Mrs Wignall at alwignall@gmail.com or on 01691 626525.