Cambridge Dial-a-Ride celebrates 25 Years of enabling mobility
Cambridge Dial-a-Ride, which provides an essential minibus service transporting people with mobility issues, is delighted to be celebrating 25 years of service to the Cambridge Community. With its fleet of varying sizes of minibuses, Cambridge Dial-a-Ride prides itself on going that extra mile to assist its members by enabling mobility in and around the Cambridge area. Launched on 29 May 1996 by Professor Stephen Hawkings, the organisation was originally established by the Zion Babtist Church in conjunction with Cambridge City Council, Cambridge Social Services and Huntingdon Health Commission with one leased bus. Now proudly supporting 6 minibuses, the Charity has gone from strength to strength.
Bill Hughes Chair of the Charity says ” Despite the national Pandemic requiring us to severely reduce our operations, which meant that we could only transport those of our members who had no alternative to getting their shopping, and to attend health appointments, we still achieved an ‘Excellent’ rating during a recent client survey, assisted with transporting both members and non-members to Covid Vaccination and health appointments as well as raising funds to help secure grant funding for replacement buses. I’m very proud of all the team, not only our current staff and volunteers, but everyone involved in the Charity’s successes over the last 25 years. We will certainly be celebrating this important milestone over the coming months.”
Says, Johan Williams, Office Manager “The secret to Cambridge Dial-a-Ride’s longevity is its staff and volunteers who are passionate about the personal ‘door to door’ service it offers and we have many regulars who have been members for years and just couldn’t manage to be independent without the help of the Cambridge Dial-a-Ride Team”.
Adds Board Trustee Linda Mills, “Having been ‘invited’ to help out as a volunteer driver over 22 years ago … the rest is history! I really enjoy being part of this great team and have met some lovely members over the years whom I really enjoy meeting up for our various trips including our infamous supermarket shopping outings which I believe are quite unique! With a door-to-door service, lifts fitted on all our mini buses and all our drivers trained in wheelchair and mobility scooter access and transportation, we can easily accommodate all those less mobile or have difficulty accessing public transport”.
In addition to visits to health appointments, shopping trips and visits to family and friends, Cambridge Dial-a-Ride is still able to take both members and non-members to their booked vaccination appointments, therefore if you have either a first or second vaccination appointment booked but are unable to get there by your own or public transport, we would be delighted to take you – free of charge! Just call the Dial-a-Ride office on 01223 506335 for details and to book your journey.
