Customer Services
Volunteer Centre gets a cash boost
The Volunteer Centre is based in Tonbridge and has advice centres in Snodland and Borough Green and encourages volunteers to step forward by promoting and offering advice about the opportunities available to work with local communities.
Volunteer drivers pick up clients living in Tonbridge who find it difficult to get out and about and accompany them around the supermarket helping them buy their shopping and attend appointments such as doctors, dentists and opticians. The sought after scheme has been running since June 2006 and proved an instant hit and now makes over 500 regular visits each year, over half of which are for residents of Russet. But with the rising cost of fuel and lack of vital funding many people are being turned away disappointed each month and waiting lists continue to grow. Despite clients making a contribution for petrol the scheme relies heavily on funding to keep this popular service up and running. Russet’s funding means the centre can recruit and train new drivers to expand this service to cater for the growing demand.
The informal drop in centre at the Library in Snodland opened last year thanks to initial funding from Russet and its volunteers now support a range of community groups and services such as befriending and mentoring young vulnerable people and a successful mums group.
Maggie Sherlock, Interim Managing Director of Russet, said: “We felt this was a fantastic opportunity to enhance the life chances of our tenants and other local people who struggle to get to the shops to buy essential groceries and attend appointments. We agreed to donate a further £3,500 to support the volunteer shopping scheme and the outreach services. Around ten extra volunteer drivers could mean 500 – 1500 additional trips a year and volunteers in other areas make such a difference to peoples lives.”
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