Burghfield & Mortimer Volunteer Bureau is committed to making a difference in your community
Getting People To And From Their Medical Appointments
Burghfield & Mortimer Volunteer Bureau is committed to making a difference in your community
Burghfield & Mortimer Volunteer Bureau
Do You Need Help?
Do You Want To Help?
Do You Want To Help?
- If you are finding it difficult to get to your medical appointments, then we are here to help. This is a service, financed solely by voluntary contribution, that is open to all of our community and our friendly team are waiting for your call.
All they will ask is:
- Your name
- Your address
- Your telephone number
- The date of your appointment
- The time of your appointment
- The location of your appointment
- The expected duration of your appointment
- Any mobility needs, wheelchair etc..
Please call 01189831814 or email our team at bureauorganiser@gmail.com
Do You Want To Help?
Do You Want To Help?
Do You Want To Help?
- Can you spare any time during the week to help the elderly and less-mobile get to and from medical appointments?
- As our drivers become unable to help, we need to replace them. Also in our ageing community the number of people needing our services is increasing.
- Have you recently retired?
- Looking for a way to give something back?
- Have a car and enjoy driving?
- Enjoy meeting people and chatting?
You should join us as a volunteer driver!
Please call 01189831814 or email our team at bureauorganiser@gmail.com
Who We Are at Burghfield & Mortimer Volunteer Bureau
Our Vision
Areas We Cover
Areas We Cover
We provide transport to hospitals, GP surgeries, dentists and opticians.
Areas We Cover
Areas We Cover
Areas We Cover
Aldermaston, Beech Hill, Burghfield, Grazeley, Mortimer, Mortimer West End, Padworth, Pamber Heath, Silchester, Sulhamstead, Stratfield Saye, Ufton Nervet, Wokefield.
Our Team & What They Do
Our Team & What They Do
Our Team & What They Do
Our team is made up of dedicated drivers and office staff who are passionate about helping the elderly and less-mobile get to and from medical appointments.
In the period of the last 12 months since November 2022, until end of October 2023, we received 1,291 client transportation requests to help people get to their appointments. We are v
Our team is made up of dedicated drivers and office staff who are passionate about helping the elderly and less-mobile get to and from medical appointments.
In the period of the last 12 months since November 2022, until end of October 2023, we received 1,291 client transportation requests to help people get to their appointments. We are very proud to report that we fulfilled 87% of those requests with the other 13% being cancelled by the client.
Our History
Our Team & What They Do
Our Team & What They Do
The Burghfield and Mortimer Volunteer Bureau
A note from Steve, our most recent past-Chairman
In The Beginning
I retired in 2016 and was interested in doing some form of voluntary work in the local area. It was at the Mortimer Summer Fair that I spoke to some people manning a stand advertising for drivers to help with the Volunteer Bureau.
The Burghfield and Mortimer Volunteer Bureau
A note from Steve, our most recent past-Chairman
In The Beginning
I retired in 2016 and was interested in doing some form of voluntary work in the local area. It was at the Mortimer Summer Fair that I spoke to some people manning a stand advertising for drivers to help with the Volunteer Bureau. I enjoy driving, and I like meeting new people, so this seemed like a neat way to give something back to the community doing something I would enjoy.
Fast forward a couple of years and I was asked if I might consider taking on the role of chairman as the incumbent chair needed to step down due to ill health. I agreed and so I am now currently the chairman of the bureau.
One job that needed to be completed was the clearing out of a lot of legacy historical documents dating back to the formation of the Bureau. A lot of this was of no use to anyone, but amongst the frankly masses of paperwork, I came across the original AGM minutes dating back to the formation of the Bureau in 1975.
So from these documents I was able to read about the earliest days of the Bureau which I found fascinating, hopefully it might be of interest to the reader.
Work had begun on the organisation as early as April 1973 with support from medical, social services and clergy as well as various professionals including a solicitor.
29th April 1974
At 8pm on this date a public meeting was held at St. Joseph’s Hall Clayhill Rd to discuss the opening of the Volunteer Centre for Community Help. Many organisations had been invited to this meeting which was clearly an attempt to start a community based hub from which local organisations could be utilised by the community.
Notable absentees at this meeting were; James Butcher Housing Assc., Silver Threads club, HMS Dauntless (WRNS new entry training establishment.) Catholic Marriage centre, M.P. Michel Wilson, Chest and Heart care assoc., Aqua sports club, Dept. of H.S.S., it is not known how many organisations did attend the meeting.
The Rev. Brian Bailey opened the meeting and introduced David Attewell as Treasurer, Sarah Del Tufo from social services and Mrs J Wood as Organiser. At this meeting the original constitution was adopted after a small change suggested by Brother Francis. An executive committee was then proposed from the original steering committee of 12 people. Apart from one change the committee was voted for unanimously.
13th May 1974
Dr. Horgan was proposed and accepted as Vice Chair. At the meeting the issue of financing was raised and the idea of applying for grants from local authorities was discussed. Publicising the hub via Mortimer and Newsbell magazines as well as posters and handouts with Mrs Holder taking on the task of writing the required wording.
12th June 1974
At this meeting the Organiser reported that there had been 30 cases of help since the last meeting, mainly for transport and gardening! There was a desperate need for drivers, a requirement that continues to this day. Someone was needed to act as Transport Officer. More volunteers generally were needed, specifically to man the telephone. It was decided that mileage remuneration should be given to drivers at the rate of 4p/mile!
23rd July 1974
Stationary had been printed free of charge by Mr Ryland. Handouts had been printed by Theale Green School. Local newsagents would be asked to insert flyers into newspapers. David Attewell, a founder member sadly passed away. An accounting report showed a small surplus of £14.48 remaining in the kitty after expenses.
23rd October 1974
Most of the money moving in and out of the hub was for transport, so it can be seen that very early on the demand for transport was becoming the principal requirement for the fledgling hub. The Organiser reported that there were now an average of 20 requirements per month. Volunteers were still required but a few new ones from Burghfield had offered their services.
3rd March 1975
Clearly now the hub was up and running, and meetings were happening less frequently. Some small scale donations were now appearing, and request for funding from Mortimer Parish council was to be made by Mr Bailey. The idea of a Secretary role was mentioned. Public liability insurance was discussed for the first time. Using offenders at the hub as part of their community service was discussed but it was felt that vetting and always being accompanied was essential before anyone of this category could be considered. The matter of an Honorarium was discussed for the first time. It was agreed that Mrs Jean Wood in the position of Organiser should be paid £50 pa paid in two parts, January and July. It was agreed unanimously. The idea of writing directly to people to ask if they would consider driving was discussed and this was agreed.
The first AGM was held on 6th May 1975
Some interesting statistics;
6,500 miles had been driven for transportation duties.
The Chairman reported that in the first 11 months of its existence 385 trips had been completed for the same 17 individuals. These were children taken to day nursery, mentally and physically handicapped teenagers being taken to therapy/guidance etc. outpatients and relatives of patients at Reading and Fairmile hospitals.
The Organiser reported that after a slow start, the phone was very busy with requirements coming in from Health visitors and Social workers. Office manning was now on a rota basis. Grants had been received from Parish councils and Berkshire social services. Berkshire county council made a grant of £150.
Blands Court Day centre was due toped shortly, and it was felt that the Hub should offer its services but that more drivers would are needed.
A new committee was agreed as follows;
Revd. Brian Bailey (Chairman)
Mrs Groom (Treasurer)
Dr Horgan
Miss B. Rowe
A Health visitor
Mr James
Miss Shrimpton
A Parish council representative
An Age concern representative
A representative for the disabled.
There would be e officio members from Berkshire social services, The Organiser Mrs J Wood, and the area Youth and Community officer.
It was stated by the Chairman that donations could be made to the Volunteer Bureau if someone wished to show appreciation for the time given but as a Volunteer Bureau individuals should not accept any payment. This then marked the formal start of the bureau as we know it.
Over the next few years I found the following items of note in the committee meetings and AGM’s.
By May 1976 the amount of driving miles had doubled from 6,500 to 12,221. The Bureau was still taking children to nursery as well as doing peoples shopping! Volunteers sat with the elderly, lit fires, walked dogs, arranged hairdressers and helped with paining and decorating. The Anderson Hill day centre opened and we helped there. Committee meetings now moved to quarterly. Jean Wood appears to have been the main driving force behind the setting up of the bureau. Annual social gatherings were suggested for the future.
March 29th 1977 Age concern wanted to start a Luncheon club in Mortimer.
At the AGM of 8th May 1977 Miss Moore reported that she had attended a conference in Birmingham of all Volunteer Bureaux in the UK. There were now 373 such organisations up and running. In the 1960’s, it was said by people that the state should take of all of the needs that the Bureau’s now met, clearly this was not the case hence the need for such organisations. By now we were driving 22,239 miles.
From the AGM held on 3rd May 1978 we find that the office was now manned 5 days a week from 09:30 to 11:30. The organisation had been asked to do a variety of tasks including finding accommodation for students wishing to hold a retreat, to provide entertainment for patients at Park Prewitt Hospital, to find and organiser for the Red Cross club, to find a tea maker for the relaxation class, and to man a creche at the clinic! Driving miles remain steady at 21,542. They set up a prescription collection service. The client database was 85 people. One of the drivers who sadly left was Lady Elizabeth Lampton!
By 1981 the official title of the organisation was Volunteer Centre for Community Help. 203 people were helped over the preceding 12 months, 376 requests for transport. The prescription collection service was very popular. There were 34 drivers on the books.
By 1983 the number of transport trips stood at over 500. Interestingly we took people to the coast for their holidays who otherwise would not have been able to get there. By now the work carried out consisted mainly of transport and prescription deliveries.
By 1985 the financial turnover was in the region of £4,000.
In the minutes of the AGM for 1987 the need for drivers was reported, and even though leaflets had been distributed to all the ‘new houses’ in the area, responses had been poor, it was still felt that word of mouth worked best. Use of bus tokens as a form of currency was widely used with the Bureau claiming the money back fro the council.
In 1988 the remuneration to drivers had increased to 18p per mile. There were now 744 transport requests. Transport and prescription collections now dominated the work done.
1989, and a cash surplus of £393 was reported. Mileage payments were increased to 20p. We were working much more closely with Doctors, Nurses and Health visitors.
By 1990 we were driving 28,000 mile. There were concerns over parking at RBH. The Chairman was Dr Lander, Treasurer Mr Bristow, Secretary Mrs Whiteman and Organiser Mrs Ballard helped by Mrs Tucker. For the first time it was suggested that small donations from clients be made to cover costs. Various methods were discussed including collection tins in cars. It was felt that a lot of users assumed the Bureau was part of the NHS.
1991, mileage allowance increased to 23p. Volunteers needed to drive and man the office.
1992 saw the first reporting in detail of where the drives were distributed. There was now a surplus of £700 in the accounts. A Grant from Social Services of £3250 had been received. Donation envelopes were being introduced. The idea that we held information regarding client needs ie wheelchair and escorts etc was raised.
1993 and 1400 journeys covering 28,000 miles was reported. There were 740 clients on the books. Newbury District council officially handed the Handybus over to the Bureau to be used for shopping trips and outings. Tokens and cash were being used to donated for drives. Marjorie McClure took over as Chair with Peter Wright as Treasurer, and Edna Read as secretary.
1994 continue in much the same way. Mileage payments were increased to 25p. Requests for drives to RBH had increase by some 25% It was proposed that badges be obtained for drivers to aid recognition by clients.
By 1995 the bureau appears to be running more or less as we would recognise it today with the same problems of recruitment, RBH parking and future funding. The Office was still operating out of Blands Court at this time. Mileage now up to 30p. Mileage on journeys were consistent now at about 27,000 miles from some 700 clients.