COVENTRY ENTERPRISE club has thanked the Observer for helping recruit ten new volunteer drivers.
Following a plea in mid-December to recruit new drivers, the enterprise club received an “overwhelming” response and now has enough drivers to fill its mid-week slots – though still needs volunteers for the weekend, particularly Saturday.
The Enterprise Club for disabled people is an independent charity based in Stoke that has provided social and leisure activities for the disabled since 1938.
Currently, the charity operates three accessible minibuses to transport members to and from events including trips to the theatre, ten pin bowling and sports events all over the country.
Without teh drivers teh club simply would not be able to exist.
General manager of Coventry Enterprise club, Jill Simms, said this year’s response for new drivers following the appeal has been the best in a decade.
She added: “We had over 20 inquiries from people wanting to join the team and become a driver – we’ve welcomed 10 of them and now have a strong team for weekdays.
“However we’re still struggling at the weekends.
“We do appreciate that Saturday’s can be a problem, people want to spend time with their families and relax but we’re only asking for one Saturday each month from a potential driver.
“Currently other drivers are kindly covering the weekend drives but over time I don’t think it will work – people have to retire at some point.
“The majority of our members wouldn’t get sessions if we couldn’t pick them up – they rely on our minibus service as most of them live away from bus routes.
“Some of our members say their best friends are at the enterprise club and it’s their social life.”
Last year, Coventry Enterprise Club transported 5,000 passengers around the country – something Jill is hoping to improve this year.
If you think you could help Jill and the Coventry Enterprise club at weekend’s by volunteering as a driver, call her on 02476 451066 or visit the website – www.enterpriseclub.org
