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Ross 'lifeline' service clocks up 100th passenger





Jamie McJimpsey (left) and driver Mike Crocker who are marking the 100th trip for the Black Isle Community Care Scheme. Picture: Ian Rhind.
Jamie McJimpsey (left) and driver Mike Crocker who are marking the 100th trip for the Black Isle Community Care Scheme. Picture: Ian Rhind.

A COMMUNITY transport scheme is celebrating a major milestone by clocking up its 100th journey.

The Black Isle Community Care Scheme (BICCS) allows people who cannot easily access public transport to call on volunteer drivers who will take them to appointments, local shops and services and to social functions.

The scheme, which is funded by Highland Council and Ross-shire Voluntary Action, has been running since July 2013 and has now picked up its 100th passenger.

Jamie McJimpsey, community project development officer with Dingwall-based Ross-shire Voluntary Action, said: "The scheme was set up to help address the needs of many of the more isolated and elderly people on the Black Isle who have trouble accessing convenient transport.

"We delivered leaflets to every household on the Black Isle to get the message out about the scheme and I have also been giving talks to community councils, friendship groups and lunch clubs to promote what we do.

"Over recent months BICCS has continued to grow and be used increasingly by people on the Black Isle. We now have about 50 registered users and a bank of around eight volunteer drivers.

"The scheme has been a success and people use it for such things as shopping, hospital and medical appointments, visiting relatives in care homes and going to social functions such as lunch clubs and other groups. People are very grateful for the service and everybody seems very happy with it."

However, Jamie wants to spread the message even further afield and is encouraging anyone who thinks they could benefit from the scheme to give Ross Voluntary Action a call.

He is also keen to recruit more volunteer drivers as ideally he would like to get the drivers’ pool up to 10 or 12.

One Black Isle resident who uses the service is Adelle Farrar (65) who lives near Culbokie.

Mrs Farrar, who suffers from multiple sclerosis, said: "I use the scheme to go to Dingwall each week to do my shopping. I’ve been using it since the very outset, in fact I think I was the third person to use it and I think it’s a brilliant service.

"My husband used to drive me to the shops but he had to relinquish his licence because of ill health so this service is a lifeline for us. We don’t live on the main road so public transport can be tricky and although our son drives, he is working.

"I would highly recommend the service to anyone and encourage them to use it. It’s friendly, convenient and very flexible."

Users pay a small charge for the service – a minimum of £3 and a maximum of £6.

The volunteer drivers use their own transport but are reimbursed for fuel.

Car scheme driver Linda Bailey from Avoch has only been involved with the service for a month but is greatly enjoying volunteering.

"I’m a personal trainer and work from home so I very often have free time during the week," she said.

"The office gets in touch and you say if you have availability or not. It’s entirely up to you what jobs you take on, and how many.

"It can be a quick half-hour run or at the maximum it can be two hours taking someone to the hospital in Dingwall and waiting for them. But on those occasions I can go shopping, which I would have to do anyway.

"Some of the users can’t drive or can no longer drive because they had a medical condition - and we all know what it’s like when you don’t have your car. You feel very isolated.

"Taxis for us on the Black Isle are expensive, which you can understand, but if you’re not working or are an OAP on a pension it’s a lot of money to go anywhere.

"I’ve only been in the area nine years so it’s also a good opportunity for me to get to know people in the community and discover the local area."

Anyone who would like to know more about the Black Isle Community Car Scheme or volunteer as a driver can contact Jamie McJimpsey at Ross Voluntary Action on (01349) 862431.


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