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
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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
Training details: We will arrange for you to be trained by one of our experienced Drivers or a member of the Food Train team. You can see what it involves and decide if you would like to support this activity.