The BVCS is a volunteer scheme offering residents of the Bride Valley transport to and from medical appointments when they are unable to drive themselves or be driven by relatives or friends. Clients are charged a mileage fee (currently 50p per mile) plus a standard charge (currently £2.00 per journey). Because the service depends on the availability of volunteer drivers, clients are asked to give as much notice as possible – we are unlikely to be able to respond to requests within 48 hours of an appointment. To book a journey please call our voluntary co-ordinator on 07393 607025

Bride Valley Car Service (BVCS) Operating Procedures Scope of Service 1. The service may be used to transport passengers to local surgeries and hospitals. Surgeries shall include the practice or clinic of a chiropodist, dentist, doctor, nurse, optician, physiotherapist or the like. 2. Passengers using the service must be able to enter, sit in and leave an ordinary car unaided; if not they must be accompanied by an able bodied adult who can assist them. No passenger will be carried whose size requires the use of a child seat or booster cushion in order to permit them to travel legally in an ordinary car or who needs or expects the driver to administer or assist with the administration of any form of medication at any time while they are acting on behalf of the service. Drivers Every driver must satisfy BVCS annually that:- 1. His or her car is taxed. 2. His or her car is insured and the driver is explicitly covered for volunteer driving. 3. His or her car has a valid MOT certificate if applicable. 4. He or she has a valid full driving licence. Drivers will be issued with parking permits for use at hospital car parks and must advise BVCS of any change of vehicle registration number. Applications for Disclosure and Barring Service checks on all drivers will be made where these are not already in existence. Drivers aged 70 or over must certify (using the form provided at Appendix A) that they are capable of acting as a volunteer driver. This certification must be renewed every 3 years (in line with DVLA requirements for renewing driving licences). Expenses Drivers will be reimbursed for total mileage driven from their home and back (including transporting the passenger) at the current HMRC-approved non profit rate of 45p for each mile. Passengers are required to pay 50p for each mile of their journey plus a fixed charge of £2.00, the combined payment to be made to the driver. A receipt is to be issued to the passenger by the driver for the full amount paid using the account/receipt book provided. The passenger mileage rate and the fixed charge may be altered from time to time. Accounting Drivers must account quarterly to the Treasurer on 31st March, 30th June,30th September and 31st December annually using the account/receipt book provided. At the quarterly accounting dates drivers should send to the Treasurer the complete second (yellow) copy of each journey page used during the quarter, plus either a. the surplus income accumulated during the quarter after deduction of their total mileage reimbursement, or b. a claim for reimbursement where their mileage expenses exceed the income received from passengers. Surplus income may be passed to the Treasurer in cash or by cheque made out to Bride Valley Car Service, or by bank transfer to TSB Sort Code 77 68 86, Account No. 00159468, Account name Bride Valley Car Service.