You will probably have seen their minibuses dropping-off and picking-up passengers all around Scarborough, but did you know that the majority of Dial a Ride’s drivers and passenger assistants are volunteers?
The charity has been supporting older and disabled local people for over 40 years and last year alone completed over 23,000 trips – an increase of over 11% on the previous year.
Manager, Steve Marsh spoke to This Is The Coast:
As well as the local journeys, which are completed in the distinctive minibuses, Dial a Ride uses its fleet of electric and wheelchair-accessible cars to offer a longer-distance service, transporting people to appointments in Bridlington, Malton, York, Hull, Leeds and Middlesborough. This service has seen a year-on-year increase in demand, with 549 journeys completed in 2024, up 29% on the previous year.
Colin Woodhead – a long-standing volunteer driver, passenger assistant and Trustee at the Charity said:
“We know that our volunteers make a genuine difference to people’s lives. By offering their time, volunteers help those who need it most to stay independent, active, and connected to their community. From a personal point of view, I get so much satisfaction from my volunteering, and I would strongly encourage others to give it a try.”
“Our volunteers come from a range of backgrounds, but all have compassion and a desire to help others. The time commitment varies from just half a day each fortnight, to several days per week. Volunteers get involved by driving our cars and/or minibuses, helping as passenger assistants, or in a new role, helping the office team by answering the phones and assisting with bookings.”
Anyone interested in volunteering at Dial a Ride can find out more by visiting the website at www.scarboroughdialaride.org/volunteering or by calling the team on (01723) 354434 between 8.30am and 5pm, Monday-Friday.
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