An urgent appeal for volunteer drivers has gone out from a community minibus service catering for elderly and disabled residents of the Ongar and North Weald area.
Since becoming fully operational six month ago, the Epping Forest Community Transport service has gone from strength to strength and now boasts 250 members.
Having previously been known as EFFECT - short for Epping Forest Fast Effective Community Transport - the group has flourished since deciding on a name change last September.
Community transport manager Jennie Marchant told the Gazette that, ironically, the shortened name has proved far more effective.
She said: 'Nobody knew what EFFECT stood for. By changing the name, all these people have come out of the woodwork because they now understand what it is we do. It's made all the difference.'
However, she admitted that the rising level of demand means the community transport scheme is at risk of becoming a victim of its own success.
'Last July we covered approximately 26 trips, and in November we carried out 269 trips,' she said.
'This does not include three weekly lunch clubs that we take approximately 50 people to each week.
For now, the Epping-based scheme has been forced to stop recruiting new members and set up a waiting list until more drivers can be found.
Anybody wanting to find out more about volunteering with the scheme is asked to call Jennie Marchant or Angela Canham during normal office hours on 01992 564040.
Published Friday, January 24, 2003
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