We set the project up because older people were contacting us for help to visit their loved one (usually their partner) in a hospice/hospital/nursing home. These are frail & isolated older people living in their own homes, usually unable to use public transport independently and don't have anyone else to help them. In some cases people were having to pay £30 for a taxi &, if you're wanting to visit your terminally ill husband of 60 years more than twice a week, that's unmanageable for most.

We set up this low cost high impact project in 2005 and we know it works. Trained volunteer drivers transport & escort clients to & from their visit/hospital appointment, supporting them in whatever way needed (eg helping guide them to the right ward, getting them a cup of tea, sitting with them for a chat when they get back home if they've had a distressing visit or received difficult health news themselves). In 2009/10 10 volunteers took 170 frail older people on over 350 journeys.