The charity, based in Ferryhill, operates a two dozen-strong fleet of crewed ambulances and ambulance cars, committed to supporting services provided by the NHS and North East Ambulance Service.
But since its launch 30 years ago, it has also relied heavily on “Good Samaritans” from within local communities to meet up to a third of the calls from members of the public needing help. Before Covid 150 community drivers were available but since the epidemic the number has halved and new recruits are urgently needed.
Community drivers using their own cars have made tens of thousands of journeys, picking up isolated passengers, many unable to use or access public transport, to reach the specialist help they need to improve health and enjoy a better quality of life.
The current volunteers come from all walks of life, many retirees who give up their time, sometimes a few hours a week, in return for a mileage allowance.
Among them is retired schoolteacher and mother-of-three Shirley Grayson, now in her 90s and one of six volunteer drivers in the Barnard Castle area. It is a service she has provided for 14 years, mostly in the Nottinghamshire area.
Robert Montanarini (Project Lead Supportive) with Shirley Grayson and Eric Bulmer Chairman of the Freemen's Charitable Trust
But, when she moved to the dales three years ago to be near her daughter, she switched to Supportive and drives as and when required to hospitals in Darlington Teesside and, on occasion, Durham.
“I am comfortable driving within an hour of home on roads far less congested than those around my former home. In rural areas with limited bus services, people struggle to get to important hospital appointments and consultations and I am happy I can still help,” said Shirley, who has seven grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. Her driving support during Covid was limited but admits it had a profound effect.
And retired civil servants Peter and Joyce Embleton, a married couple who live on the outskirts of Durham City, also provided critical support during the pandemic.
Joyce currently uses her car to make half a dozen trips a week, while Peter concentrates his efforts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and can complete a dozen runs, some at short notice and on occasion involving children in care. His trips have, however taken him further afield to hospitals in Northumberland, Teesside, North Yorkshire and, on one occasion, Leeds.
Robert Montanarini with Colin Tazey, Shirley Grayson, Eric Bulmer and Peter Embleton
During Covid the couple’s work expanded into making food runs to soup kitchens and delivering food parcels to cash-strapped families.
“With demand for all health services showing no signs of letting up, alongside the rise in living costs and the specific transport needs of disabled people, the door-to-door service our community drivers provide has never been more important,” said Supportive’s Head of Operations, Kirsty Armstrong.
Durham City Freemen’s Charitable Trust were the first to support the charity’s appeal campaign, donating over £1,700 to meet costs of a county-wide leafleting and poster campaign.
And the freemen have since been joined by staff and engineers from the Sky TV’s Community Programmers Team who have offered their own time to distribute the appeal’s leaflets across local communities. Their efforts will serve to reinforce Supportive’s posters in G.P. surgeries, hospitals, clinics, dental surgeries and other health-related establishments.
The offer from Sky’s teams is pivotal to the distribution of the 20,000 appeal leaflets which compliment additional posters which have gone to supermarkets, libraries, sports centres and other public buildings.
Sky’s team is devoted to combating loneliness and isolation, particularly among both the elderly and the young. Last year, across the UK, their staff completed over 40,000 hours of volunteering and raised tens of thousands of pounds for charitable causes.
Grant Scobie, from Sky’s Communities Programme Team, explained: “It is our pleasure to help spread the word of Supportive’s brilliant work and help persuade more volunteer drivers to step up to the challenge and reach out to those desperate for help.”
Eric Bulmer, chairman of the freemen’s charitable trust added: “We acknowledge and applaud the dedication of those members of the public who volunteer to make these vital journeys for those most at need in our communities and are more than pleased to help ensure this most valuable work continues.”
To contact Supportive ring on 01740 658880
