John is a wheelchair user and uses Derbyshire Dial-a-Ride once a week to do his shopping. ‘My mobility issues made it difficult to leave the house and it was so frustrating. Dial-a-Ride has made such a difference in my life. Now I meet new people and have a weekly routine,’ explains John. John likes to stay busy and also attends a social group three days a week. ‘Being active in the community has definitely helped with loneliness. I have made good friends and feel a lot more confident. ‘You can’t imagine how much community transport impacts your life but it has made such a positive difference and I don’t know where I’d be without it. I rely on it for all my social activities but it also gives me a purpose and reason for leaving the house. The service is really great and vital for people like me,’ John tells us.

Providing transport for John can only be possible thanks to our volunteer drivers. John requires assistance on his outings so our drivers also accompany him. They’ve experienced all sorts of outings with John – shopping trips, tram journeys to Nottingham, and even a wrestling evening at the local leisure centre! ‘Community transport is so important for people who are unable to access conventional transport. Many people rely on this service and we really try to cater to people’s needs. Helping people like John is what makes our work so valuable,’ said Derbyshire Community Transport driver Robin Mather.