Home About us For volunteers For organisations For groups Find opportunities Contact us

Find opportunities

Driving / Escorting

Volunteer Drivers

  • Food Train (Scottish Borders)
  • VO69181

Description

Do you love to drive? Do you want to help older people stay healthy and independent at home? YES! Then this is a great volunteering opportunity for you.

Our trusted, reliable and friendly volunteers provide a vital weekly food shopping service which helps older people stay healthy and independent at home.
Volunteer Drivers normally dedicate one day a week to Food Train with a minimum time commitment of between four and five hours starting around 9.30am and finishing around 14:30pm.
On Mondays our Volunteer Drivers collect shopping lists from our customers. This involves going to customers’ homes accompanied by a Volunteer Helper, checking shopping lists are correct and clearly written and in some cases writing lists for customers.
On Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays Volunteer Drivers deliver shopping around the Galashiels, Hawick and Selkirk areas accompanied by a Volunteer Helper. Shopping is collected from Tesco or Asda in Galashiels already boxed and is delivered in a dedicated Food Train van to each customers’ home where it is unpacked, checked and put away if required.
We provide a van for deliveries and all equipment to support this activity.
This social and active post will help keep you fit and active whilst providing an invaluable service to the local community.

Organisation aims and objectives

Food Train began in Dumfries in 1995 following a community survey of older people that found many of them struggling with their weekly grocery shopping; an idea was developed to ease this burden on older people. A partnership of local shops and volunteers formed and Food Train began making deliveries of fresh groceries to older people in need with the help of local volunteers and shops. Food Train operated very successfully in Dumfries town area between 1995 and 2002 but the founder members knew there was potential to expand the service across the region. A four year funding package from the Scottish Executive ‘Better Neighbourhood Services Fund' awarded in 2002 allowed staff to be recruited to develop Food Train and deliver grocery support across all Dumfries & Galloway. By 2006 the grocery delivery service was fully operational across the region and the Board focused on the evidenced needs of the members and developed Food Train 'EXTRA' - an additional home support service. More recently a third service has been added in Dumfries & Galloway, again responding to the needs of our members with a befriending service helping those experiencing isolation and loneliness. In 2008 we began researching, planning and preparing to expand Food Train into other parts of Scotland. With support from The Scottish Government, Community Food & Health (Scotland) and The Rank Foundation, we have been able to expand Food Train into West Lothian, Stirling, Dundee, Glasgow, Renfrewshire and North Ayrshire, providing food access solutions to many more older people and clearly demonstrating our ability to transfer our successful model geographically. Food Train is now a thriving multi award winning Charity supporting older people in 7 local authority areas in Scotland, with a view to developing further and wider across Scotland to bring food access to all Scotland's older folk.

Availability

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Morning
Afternoon
Evening

Minimum commitment of 6 months.

Frequency and commitment details

Minimum commitment of 6 months.

Restrictions

Experience required: A full driving licence and PVG check is required, along with enthusiasm, commitment plus a friendly, approachable manner and knowledge of the local area. You need to have a good level of spoken and written English to be able to understand customers' requirements / shopping lists.
Travel details: Food Train Office, 48 Overhaugh Street, Galashiels, visiting Asda supermarket in Galashiels town centre and customer homes in the Galashiels, Selkirk and Hawick areas.
Minimum age: 17

Support

Expenses paid: Yes
Expenses details: Travel to and from the Galashiels office will be reimbursed at 45p per mile or public transport costs reimbursed.
Taster available: Yes

Last updated 3 months ago

Similar opportunities

2nd Hawick Boys' Brigade are looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help lead games and sporty activities for their children and young people in the Anchors and Junior Sections, working with Primary 2 - Primary 6 aged children. The group meets on Wednesday evenings during term-time, taking part in a wide range of activities including crafts, games, sports, cooking, life skills and community projects.
Find out more
You don't need to be a social media or marketing expert for this role - just able to use the internet, email and confident talking to people. We’ll tell you about our latest national fundraising activities, emergency appeals and campaign messages so you can tell others and encourage them to take part, support and attend events. You’ll research local opportunities, and contact local businesses, schools and local groups. You’ll also find free ways to tell your community about what’s happening locally and nationally. The Community Fundraising Manager is only a phone call away for support and you’ll meet up with them regularly to make promotional plans and for any mutual updates. It’s a really flexible role which can fit around your other commitments. If you’re over 18 and can commit to at least two hours a week for a minimum of six months please get in touch.
Find out more
Retail Volunteer
  • Save the Children
Our Save the Children Shop in Broughty Ferry has been a much loved part of the local community for years and continues to be hugely popular with customers and supporters, thanks to the kindness and generosity of the wonderful volunteer team. If you would like to volunteer with us all you will need is some enthusiasm and a desire to make a difference. The role is diverse, taking place on the shop floor and behind the scenes. Volunteer tasks include anything from sorting donations, steaming clothes, pricing products, managing the till, and helping with the window displays. You can choose how much time you dedicate, and we’ll give you training and support along the way. No special skills are needed, and we welcome people from all nationalities and backgrounds. Your donation of time, creativity and kindness can help us change the future for children all over the world!
Find out more
Living Well Support Volunteer
  • The Ayrshire Hospice
This role is to support people living in our communities to live well with their illness. We currently do this in a variety of ways – face to face in our Hubs, online via zoom, and via activity packs in the post. You could support us in any or all of these formats. The time you would commit to this role would be flexible. Ideally, we would like ongoing (weekly) commitment to the service, particularly for face to face service and social chat online. However, if you can commit a period of time regularly to the hospice e.g. a creative writing course for 6 weeks we would also consider this. The benefits you will receive include: -The opportunity to gain experience in the charity sector -Take on a new challenge and meet new people -Opportunity to make a difference to your community -Learn and develop new skills and use existing skills to help others -Training and support to carry out your role -Reimbursement of expenses in accordance with our volunteer expenses policy
Find out more