Riverside Surgery Befrienders

Riverside Surgery Befrienders is a local charity which provides transport to the surgery and other healthcare locations for patients who would otherwise find it difficult to get to their appointments. We have volunteer drivers who use their own cars, and although they give their time for free they are fully reimbursed for mileage expenses. We also have a team of coordinators whose job it is to match up the requests from patients with available drivers.

We are always looking for new volunteers who live in or within the immediate vicinity of Bovey Tracey to fulfil both driving and coordinating roles. Our service users are typically from older age groups, who may not be able to use public transport even if available, and are unable to drive themselves. Our primary commitment is to those who have no relatives or friends who can help them. Apart from Riverside Surgery itself, we serve a range of other destinations including the hospitals at Torbay, Exeter and Plymouth. Our volunteer drivers can give as much or as little time as they wish. Each patient journey is arranged individually and drivers are free to decline any run if they have other commitments. All we ask is that once they have accepted a run, they honour that obligation. It is an ideal volunteering opportunity for those that do not wish to tie themselves down to a fixed day each week.

Our coordinators are often also drivers, or will have undertaken this role previously. They are a key part of the organisation, and normally do a week of duty at a time. They collect the patient requests from the surgery each day, then telephone drivers on the list until they have matched up each request with a suitable available volunteer.

If you would like to find out more about becoming one of our VOLUNTEERS, please complete the enquiry form below and someone will contact you. If you are a PATIENT of Riverside Surgery who wishes to use our srevice, please contact the surgery instead.

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