Drivers are required to:

• Complete a DBS check on application and undertake to recheck if their circumstances change
• Maintain a valid driving licence and insurance
• Maintain their nominated vehicle to all legal requirements
• Inform their insurance company that they are a volunteer driver. No additional premium should be payable and, if necessary, a sample letter that explains Link driving is available
• Drive in a safe and appropriate manner
• Inform the co-ordinators of their availability
• Be aware of their own need to keep safe and the health and safety of the clients 
• Always wear or have available their Link Identity Badge
• Be aware of Link’s donation policy and hand donation envelopes to clients
• Inform the co-ordinators, in confidence, of any concerns with transporting clients
• Maintain Client confidentiality at all times
• Consider a Drive + driving assessment on reaching 79 years of age

Drivers must inform the co-ordinators to any change in driving status such as but not limited to:

• An illness that may impair the ability to drive safely
• The use of medications that might affect driving ability
• A motoring conviction
• A change of vehicle      

Contact with Pewsey Link will be only through the co-ordinators. The co-ordinators work together to cover the scheme 7 days a week and the contact individual may vary from day to day. The contact telephone number, however, always remains the same.

Co-ordinators’ telephone number:  01672 564930

The co-ordinators have a copy of a driver’s application form that informs them of contact details and the days and areas that a driver might be available to drive.

The volunteer driver will be contacted by the “duty” co-ordinator who will have received a call for assistance from a client and will then seek to match the requirement to an available driver.

All arrangements are made with the co-ordinator, never the client.

As volunteers, Link drivers are under no obligation to undertake any driving request that they consider unsuitable for them at that time.

Assistance to New Drivers:

New drivers may feel apprehensive or nervous as they start out with Link. The co-ordinators are always there to help and can provided an experienced volunteer to accompany a new volunteer on an initial journey or travel with another driver on their journey to see how the system works.

Expense Claims:

The Link Scheme does not charge clients for the services provided. They are requested to make a contribution if they can afford to and the driver will hand an envelope to the client at the start of a journey. This should be returned at the end of the service.  It is not unknown for a client to offer a tip to a driver, but these should be refused, or accepted but treated as a donation.

All journeys conducted and claims for mileage must be noted on the Volunteers’ expenses sheet.  The minimum claim will be for 5 miles and timings shown to the nearest half hour.

The completed expense form and donation envelopes should be returned to the Treasurer on the first Tuesday of each month at the Bouverie Hall between 0945 and 1045.

The current rate for mileage allowance is 45 pence per mile.

Additional Information.

Private cars are currently not included in No Smoking legislation but clients should not smoke in your car without permission.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA / www.rospa.com) has information and guidance on its website for volunteer drivers.

Document dated:  31st March 2022

Review:  March 2025