South Holland Parish Voluntary Car Service desperate for help with meeting due in Pinchbeck

A service which offers a vital lifeline to the elderly in the area is finding itself in ‘dire straits’ as it searches for more helpers.

South Holland Parish Voluntary Car Service co-ordinator Greg Greene is hoping some ‘fresh blood’ will come forward to offer their support.

For many in the area, the service - which offers transport for a minimum charge - is the only way to get to important appointments at a time when our ambulance is under pressure. But departures and, sadly, deaths have resulted in high-profile positions being vacated.

There is also a need for more drivers from the patch, which stretches as far as Sutton Bridge.

“It’s in dire straits. We’ve been losing crucial people,” Mr Greene said. “It’s a wonderful service. Prior to Covid we were covering 2,000 miles annually.

“That’s a lot of miles for a sparsely populated population, but because we’re sparsely populated the service is so valuable.”

The service was one of the causes championed by Coun Angela Newton, who died in August.

An extraordinary general meeting will be held at Pinchbeck Community Hub & Library on Thursday, October 27 (beginning at 7pm) to ratify the position of treasurer and secretary and to elect a chair and vice-chair.

Vice-chairman Alan Hammersley is currently acting as interim chair and treasurer and will step into the chairman’s role if voted in, while Hilary Marks is currently the temporary secretary.

But even if these vacant roles can be filled, the service is crying out for more support.

Mr Greene explained: “Ideally, we can fill these roles and have a few more committee members who can offer some fresh blood and fresh impact.

“We’re also desperate for more drivers. It’s voluntary so you can help when you are available.”

Mr Greene added that, as well as providing a vital service, joining the team could benefit volunteers.

“Voluntary work is very rewarding and fulfilling,” he said. “The vast majority of people we provide the service for are elderly and they really appreciate what we offer.

“For many it’s their only real option to get to an appointment.”

Val Gemmell, of the Spalding and Pinchbeck Good Neighbour Scheme, is one of the many people to have received vital support from the service.

She said: “Twenty years ago I was living on my own and had to have a mastectomy.

“I wasn’t allowed to drive for six weeks.

“I didn’t know about the Voluntary Car Scheme at first and had to pay £60 for a taxi to get to hospital.

“The voluntary car service makes sure people can get to their medical appointments.

“Without them I could not have gone. When you’ve got cancer and are not working there are so many extra bills you haven’t thought of.”

East Midlands Ambulance Service has said an ‘unacceptable’ pattern of ambulances spending hours waiting outside emergency departments to discharge patients is hampering its response times. More than half of its 48 serious incidents were in Lincolnshire.

Anyone wishing to volunteer for the service can call 01775 630 144.