Over the past five years Transport for Sick Children has helped almost 4,000 children, undertaken 32,000 trips and driven over 500,000 miles.
The charity has a team of volunteers who drive children to hospital appointments throughout the Greater Manchester area and is looking for more drivers to help.
Its mission is to reduce stress and barriers to a family by enabling children to attend important medical appointments despite any transport, financial or social issues they have.
Volunteer drivers (who are all checked for their suitability to work with children) use their own cars to collect the child along with their carer and drive them to their medical appointment.
They then wait until the appointment has finished and take them home. The role is flexible with some drivers out on the road most days and others a few times a month. We supply child car seats and drivers are reimbursed for petrol costs (50p a mile) on a monthly basis.
What is it like being a volunteer?
Julie Baum, a volunteer driver, said: “I retired three years ago and wanted to keep active so after volunteering for the Covid vaccination centres I got in touch with Transport for Sick Children.
“I’d worked with children during my career and have two of my own so the role really appealed to me. I enjoy being busy and meeting new people and the parents and carers are so grateful for what I do.
“Hearing a little boy that I’d been taking to appointments for a while talk for the first time after having a hearing implant fitted was just magical.”
What do the families say about us?
A parent/carer said: “I would like to thank the charity for supporting us with transport; I have no words strong enough to express my gratitude really.
“The volunteer drivers are very humble, respectful and trustworthy. I’d like to express my appreciation to them and let them know how they are contributing massively to the life and wellbeing of somebody.”
The support team
Making the vital link between families, referrers and volunteer drivers is a friendly, experienced team in the office. The support team assigns drivers to appointments and co-ordinates communication between drivers and carers to ensure trips run smoothly.
Interested in becoming a volunteer?
Being a volunteer driver is really flexible depending on how much time you want to give. If you can spare a few hours a week, have your own car and want to help improve the lives of children in Greater Manchester then why not consider volunteering for the charity?
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please visit the Transport for Sick Children website or give Laura or Marie-Anne a call on 0161 443 4122.
