We support the Voluntary Social Car Scheme. This transport service is provided by volunteer coordinators and drivers. The scheme operates under the car sharing legislation.
The scheme is only available to Cumbrian residents.
You are only eligible to use the scheme if you do not have access to, or have difficulty accessing, a private vehicle or public transport. This is determined each time you request a journey and can include temporary situations.
If you are under the age of 18, you must be accompanied by an adult.
You must book journeys through an appointed volunteer coordinator, not through the volunteer driver. Depending on which is easier and available, this could be:
- ad-hoc with the closest available driver
- as a weekly or fortnightly arrangement with the same driver
Journeys are only available depending on volunteers’ availability. You may be asked to share transport and may need to be flexible about travel times.
As the scheme is not a scheduled bus service, passengers cannot use concessionary NoWcards.
The driver and passenger are not allowed to smoke in the vehicle during the journey. This includes 20 minutes before the journey starts.
Guide dogs are permitted. Any other animal is at the discretion of the driver. Please inform the coordinator when booking.
You must be able to access and exit the vehicle without weight-bearing assistance. Drivers can use their arm for guidance to show sight impaired customers to and from the car.
If you need assistance, you must bring your own carer. You carer will travel for free.
Volunteers and passengers are not insured for injury if they participate in manual handling activity. This includes carrying shopping and lifting objects in or out of the car.
Drivers do not hold a Disclosure and Barring Service check. They are not allowed to enter your household or accompany you to appointments. They are also not allowed to carry you if you need personal care. This includes going to a day centre for a bath.
You must pay for parking. Our drivers can sometimes park for free at hospitals, but please check before journey commences.
You must have enough money with you before travel. Drivers must not accept more than 50 pence per mile from you for each journey, as set by the Inland Revenue. The rate drops to 30 pence per mile after 20 miles.
Any additional monies received will be given to a charity of the driver's choice.
Any price capped journeys do not apply to hospitals where the NHS Patient Transport is not available. Transport requests for prescriptions are charged at 45 pence per mile if you are not in the vehicle.
Our coordinators and drivers will try to provide journeys as requested. They cannot be held accountable for journeys that don't go ahead due to unforeseen circumstances. This includes illness, weather, and car issues.
You can use an unexpired Blue Badge under the terms and conditions imposed.
You will be offered a receipt of payment from the driver. You do not have to take the receipt.
You must treat all volunteers and other customers with dignity and respect at all times. We do not tolerate the abuse of drivers and we may refuse future journeys.
You are asked to give as much notice as possible when making journey arrangements. This includes cancelling or making changes.
You must not travel whilst under the influence. This includes non-prescription drugs, alcohol or other substances that could be incapacitating.
We do not duplicate other transport provision and therefore the Voluntary Social Car Scheme cannot be used for:
- transport to day care
- school
- nursery
- college
- hospital appointments or treatment if Patient Transport is available
If you need transport to your hospital appointment, please check your eligibility for Patient Transport. Do this by contacting the Patient Transport Service run by North West Ambulance.
Patient Transport Service
Telephone: 0800 032 3240
Your personal and journey information will be kept by the coordinator and given to the drivers for the purpose of operating the scheme. It will not be used for additional purposes without your consent.
This information is also shared with the Council. All personal data is processed according to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) May 2018. You have the right to:
- see your records
- ask that they be amended where they are inaccurate
- ask that they be deleted where no longer required for the scheme
To read our privacy notice, please contact us.
Voluntary Transport Officer
Email: integrated.transport@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
Telephone: 0333 240 6965 (option 5, charged at local rate)
You can also request a Comment Card to feedback any comments, suggestions, issues and experiences to us.