Colchester volunteer shares why you should help with C360 transport

Jane, 67, was in Sainsbury’s when she saw a community transport poster advertising for mini-bus drivers

As a confident driver who was used to driving a motorhome she didn't hesitate to sign up. 

Now 12 years on the Community360 volunteer says it is both an escape and a reward.

The role sees her take people out on weekly excursion and to events with Community360 which is a “lifeline for many”.

Jane, 67, ran her own business and industrial advertising company in the 2000s, meaning she had the ability to take a day out if wanted.  Award - Jane McCausland being awarded Citizen of the Year from former Mayor John Jowers (Image: Community360)

Community Transport (360) has one programme with volunteer drivers which “effectively run a taxi service” for people to hospital and other places as well as a minibus fleet which take older people on more fun trips.

Jane, who won the John Jowers Award for Outstanding Citizen of the year, said there are about 24 members who go for a pub lunch or to garden centre or for a little bit of shopping.

She said: “One of the problems with people is they're housebound, they can't buy birthday cards.

“At Christmas we always try and go somewhere where they can buy gifts. It’s not easy if you're stuck at home, maybe you’re in a wheelchair or you need a walker, you don't have a car – so it’s a bit of a lifeline."

Members are also now referred through social prescription – when GPs prescribe activities or groups as medical treatment – with Jane saying that it is “very positive” for widowed people in particular.

She added: “If you're chatting and you're out and you're having a good time.

“Your own problems seem to fade away, even if it's just for that day."

Volunteers - Andy Thompson and Jane McCausland (Image: Submitted)

There is also a mixture of single people and couples who have often given up driving. 

Jane said: “We're a victim of our success really because we have two full buses and so we're really running at capacity.

“That's why they’d like more volunteers because they're limited in their scope by the number of volunteers they’ve got."

For Jane, flexibility is a key advantage to this type of volunteering, with volunteers being able to do just one day or a couple of mornings to fit around their schedule including the semi-retired like herself.

When asked about the societal change for people of Jane’s generation who are increasingly semi-retired or volunteers, Jane said: “People do more jobs, don't they?

“They have more roles in their life, whereas a few years ago you did just one job all your life. But my other job is I'm a civil celebrant, I do non-religious funerals and that that's a lovely thing to do."

Jane said that with everything going online, including car tax and prescriptions, that the increasing societal reliance on the internet becomes a barrier as well as causing society to “suffer” from a “lack of real communication with real people”.

Social - Members at the Harbour View Bistro overlooking Tollesbury Marina (Image: Submitted)

During the pandemic, Jane coordinated hot meals from a local pub which did takeaways alongside zoom calls and activities for Community 360.

Jane said the issue was again “the big gap” between those who had online access.

However, Jane did add that “the beauty of technology” is that she can now text nearly everyone details of arrangements which is far easier than waiting for people to pick up, helping her volunteering.

Jane was awarded 'Citizen of the Year' by the former Mayor of Colchester John Jowers last year, and said that she was sure other people deserved it more than herself.

She said: “It was quite nice because sometimes, you know, volunteering can feel a bit lonely, you know, because you're out doing your own thing.

“But they've got a good team in the office and that makes a difference because it is nice to feel that you're part of something."