Stirling Observer

Vital car share scheme gets £10k cash boost

Initiative is run by volunteers and supports residents

- CHRIS MARZELLA

A volunteer-run car sharing scheme in Killin has been handed a cash boost after pocketing almost £10,000.

Killin and District Volunteer Car Scheme will receive a grant of £9,220 from the National Lottery Communitie­s Fund.

The scheme sees local volunteers offer their services to assist residents who struggle to access public transport to get to GP and hospital appointmen­ts, clinics, clubs and day centres.

The funding will go towards maintainin­g and fuelling the volunteer drivers’ vehicles to provide a car service for Killin and the other nearby villages.

Don Fraser, from the Killin and District Volunteer Car Scheme, told the Observer: “Our budget is divided into two crucial categories.

“Firstly, we allocate approximat­ely 11 per cent of our annual expenditur­e towards administra­tion, insurance, and driver training.

“Secondly, the remaining funds are used to subsidise journeys.

“These funds ensure our drivers are adequately recompense­d and trained, and our fleet is insured to efficientl­y manage the organisati­on.

“The remaining funds are used to help offset the cost of journeys for our customers, making our transport services affordable and reliable.”

Don added: “Our drivers not only take passengers to their destinatio­n, which is usually clinics and procedures at our major hospitals, but they also often wait up to four hours or more to return their passengers home.

“The estimated overall driving and waiting time per year is around 2,000 hours, not including volunteer administra­tive and coordinato­r contributi­ons.

“Additional­ly, the total mileage for the year is approximat­ely 30,000 miles.

“Recent research based on a Social Return on Investment (SROI) analysis shows that our transport and volunteeri­ng services benefit the users of transport services, the volunteers, the wider community, and the environmen­t.

“Every pound invested in rural community transport leads to substantia­l savings for individual­s, as it helps them maintain their independen­ce and supports health and social care services.

“Regular treatments for conditions such as cataracts, macular degenerati­on, cancer, and other conditions are crucial, needing ongoing interventi­ons, enabling people to maintain their independen­ce and remain within their homes.

“By ensuring that individual­s receive timely, consistent care, the healthcare system can avoid the expenses associated with missed appointmen­ts.

“We also save on health budgets by reducing the use of the passenger ambulance service, which often cannot meet demand.

“Patients gain from this, and it also lightens the load on the NHS, social services, and other healthcare organisati­ons.

“Our service must be given high priority if we are to help those whose access or appointmen­ts prevent them from using public transport to live their lives with dignity and independen­ce.”

Don said the funding is vital to the service, adding: “Without the assistance and support we receive from the National Lottery Communitie­s Fund, individual donations, and other grant funders, our scheme would be unable to offer such a valuable service.”

The team is always looking for new volunteers to come forward and get involved.

To find out more, go to https://www. killinandd­isctrictvo­lunteercar­scheme. com/

 ?? ?? Welcomed Don Fraser said the funding is vital for the service
Welcomed Don Fraser said the funding is vital for the service

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