Voluntary Car Scheme

The Voluntary Car Scheme is intended for those people who have no other means of transport.  Volunteers are available to collect you from your home and take you to your chosen destination.  The scheme is mainly used for: 

• Visiting friends and relatives 
• Doctors and dentist appointments 
• Shopping 
• Making connections with buses or trains 
• Other social trips       

There are over 35 schemes set up across Cumbria.  Passengers contact a volunteer co-ordinator in their area and inform them of where they would like to travel to - the co-ordinator then does their best to organise a volunteer driver to undertake the trip.  There is a maximum charge of 30p per mile per journey, which covers part of the cost of the trip, and the remaining expenses are subsidised by the County Council.  To find out where your nearest Voluntary Car Scheme is, please contact The Transport Section, Cumbria County Council, Client Services & Property Unit, Portland Square, Carlisle, CA1 1PE or telephone (01228) 226003.

The scheme obviously relies on volunteers - drivers who provide transport in their own cars to members of the community, and co-ordinators who recruit drivers and ensure that they are registered with the County Council and who publicise the scheme in their local area.  Drivers are currently refunded by the Council at a rate of 40p per mile.  If you have some spare time and would like to help, please contact us using the details below: