Wednesday, 07 November 2012
A grant of almost £440,000 has been awarded to WRVS to launch and fund 11 community transport services across the country. The transport services, which will provide vital support to isolated older people, have been given the money by People’s Health Trust, on behalf of The People’s Health Lottery.
The new transport services will support 3,850 older people to get out and about – to go shopping, to GP or hospital appointments or simply to meet up with friends. With this funding the transport services, run by WRVS volunteers, will be able to do 46,200 individual journeys over the course of a year.
The Health Lottery funding has been awarded through People’s Health Trust, the independent charity responsible for deciding where the money is most needed. The new transport schemes will be in: Cumbria, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, North Ayrshire, Moray, North Yorkshire, Thurrock, Norfolk, Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and London.
"These transport services will provide a lifeline for many isolated older people across the country. Our dedicated volunteers will help these older people to get out and about to run errands, to continue shopping as they always have done, to attend health appointments and most importantly to retain their independence. We’re very grateful to the People’s Health Lottery for this vital funding."
Verity Haines, WRVS Executive Director of Marketing and Development
Watch a short film about existing WRVS Community Transport services in Aberdeen:
"It is great that we have been able to raise money for this essential service which will allow vulnerable older people to remain connected with their local communities and continue with the day-to-day tasks which we all take for granted."
Chris Lunn, Director of People’s Health Trust