Charity's future looking good after appeal for help
A struggling charity committee has found some new volunteers thanks to an appeal in our sister paper the Lincolnshire Free Press.
Holbeach Community Vehicle was under threat due to a shortage of drivers and committee members and held a special meeting in a bid to get people interested.
The plight of the bus was highlighted by articles featured in the Lincolnshire Free Press and its free sister paper Holbeach Diary.
Now three new people have joined the committee and six volunteers have put their names forward as drivers.
New secretary Michelle Rhodes said: "Around 30 people came along to the meeting, which was great.
"I do not live in Holbeach but I grew up in Fleet and still have family in the area so when I saw the piece in Holbeach Diary I decided to help."
Before the recruitment drive there were just three drivers and, although people hiring the vehicle are responsible for providing their own drivers, the committee likes to have a list of people available to get behind the wheel if necessary.
To become a volunteer driver you must be between 21 and 70 and hold a full driving licence.
The committee was also short of members with just chairman Martin Howard and treasurer Graham Warrender.
Now, along with Michelle, the committee has a new fundraiser, Valery Gemmell, and new vice-treasurer Fred Baker.
The 17-seater bus provides transport for groups such as St Raphael Club, Holbeach Blind Club and Holbeach and East Elloe Hospital.
It currently costs 70p a mile to hire the bus, which covers all costs, including insurance and petrol, although there are plans to revise the charges in the future.
Michelle added: "At the moment the cost to hire the bus is well below the cost to run it so we need to look at that while making sure it is still reasonable."
The vehicle is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and once it has been booked the vehicle is available for use all day, meaning clubs can travel when they want to.
Anyone wanting to find out more should contact Martin on 01406 422825.
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Weather for Spalding
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 24 mph
Wind direction: East
