Transport help to get your Covid vaccinations
VOLUNTARY transport help is available to residents who are struggling to travel to have their Covid-19 vaccination.
As the roll-out of the vaccination programme continues, Warwickshire County Council is keen to remind people that there is help for those who have no transport options to get to their vaccine appointment.
They are run by different groups in different parts of the county but all areas are covered.
It has been stressed the service is offered if the provider has availability and booking in advance is required.
It is for those who have no other way of being able to get to their appointment. Residents in Stratford, Warwick and Rugby areas can contact VASA on 01789 262889 and press option 1, Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm or email transport@vasa.org.u
Residents in Nuneaton, Bedworth and Bulkington can contact Volunteer Friends on 024 7664 0088 - Monday to Friday 9.30am to 12.30pm or email info@volunteerfriends.org.u
Residents in North Warwickshire can contact Beeline on 01827 717074, Monday to Friday 9am to 1pm.
Councillor Les Caborn, cabinet member for adult social care and health at Shire Hall, said: “Getting a vaccine is a key step in protecting yourself against the severe symptoms of Covid-19 and I encourage anyone eligible for an appointment to book and attend.
“If anyone needs support getting to a vaccine appointment, there are transport options available, such as, a member of your household or bubble can take you or you can access one of the available voluntary transport schemes.
“I encourage you to use these options to make sure you can attend your appointment and stay safe.”
Jeremy James, chairman of Church Lawford Parish Council, said they had taken inspiration from a nearby village - Stretton under Fosse - where the community adopted their local phone box and turned it into an information booth with details on local history, as well as local walks and footpaths.
Mr James said: “We wanted to add the book exchange element as the mobile library only visits briefly once a month, and this aspect has really taken over.
“I have been pleased by the level of support it gets. Those people that use it appreciate it, and the only real maintenance needed is periodic tidying up of the book supply.
“At Christmas we installed lights on the green for the first time, powered from the phone box, and we also installed a sound system with carols and songs written about the village during the Covid-lockdown.
“If another village were considering adopting their phone box, I would say it is very worthwhile.”
Sarah Walker, BT Enterprise unit director for the Midlands, said: “With most people now using mobile phones, it’s led to a huge drop in the number of calls made from payphones. At the same time, mobile coverage has improved significantly in recent years due to investment in masts, particularly in rural areas.
“Thousands of communities have already come up with a fantastic array of ideas to re-use their beloved local phone box.
Applying is quick and easy and we’re always happy to speak to communities about adopting our phone boxes.”
Phone boxes available in the local area:
Coventry 2 Nuneaton and Bedworth 2 North Warwickshire 2 Rugby 4 Stratford-on-avon 28 Warwick 3
Solihull 2
Communities can adopt a kiosk if they are a recognised public body, such as a parish council, community council or town council.
Boxes can also be adopted by registered charities or by individuals who have a payphone on their own land.
For further details on how to apply to Adopt a Kiosk visit: www. bt.com/adopt