Thanks to Government funding through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, a new grant has been awarded to expand the Door to Door service, which helps residents across the Newark and Sherwood district who struggle to access or use public transport.

The funding will allow the service — operated by Newark CVS for Newark and Sherwood District Council — to increase operations into evenings and weekends, and offer additional befriending support to attend activities.
Journeys can be used to visit friends, attend social activities, regular medical appointments, or go shopping.

Volunteer drivers use their own vehicle to collect people from their home address and ensure they get home again safely.

Madeleine O’Sullivan, couuncil chief officer, said: “The expansion of the service will be a great asset to the community. We will now be able to give people an opportunity to undertake more social activities, such as attending the cinema, joining clubs running in the evening, and starting new hobbies.

“The service will also be able to take people to medical appointments, which are increasingly being offered past 5pm.”

Coun David Lloyd, council leader, added: “The Door to Door service, operated by the CVS, is an incredibly important lifeline for so many in our local community.

“Therefore, I am absolutely delighted that through the Shared Prosperity Fund we can support our partners, the CVS, in expanding this service to hopefully help even more people in our community.”

The project is bringing more opportunities for people to become volunteer drivers and befrienders.

A driver would be responsible for picking up a client and taking them to their destination, where as a befriender would drive but also assist further — such as helping with shopping or attending an activity with the client.

All volunteers are paid mileage at 45p per mile. Volunteering can be a great way of becoming more socially connected and an active citizen. It can also be a valuable pathway to employment for those interested in developing a career in customer service, driving or community development.

For more information on how to become a volunteer driver, visit the Door to Door page on the CVS website, https://www.nandscvs.org/our-work/door-to-door-service

The Door to Door Scheme operates with an annual membership of £40 for an individual and £45 for a joint membership. A booking fee of £3 applies for a journey plus mileage paid to the driver. You can register using the form on the CVS website, https://www.nandscvs.org/our-work/door-to-door-service

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6b funding for local investment by March 2025.

The fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills.

For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus

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